Molecular identification and characterization of the platelet ADP receptor targeted by thienopyridine antithrombotic drugs.

ADP plays a critical role in modulating thrombosis and hemostasis. ADP initiates platelet aggregation by simultaneous activation of two G protein-coupled receptors, P2Y1 and P2Y12. Activation of P2Y1 activates phospholipase C and triggers shape change, while P2Y12 couples to Gi to reduce adenylyl cyclase activity. P2Y12 has been shown to be the target of the thienopyridine drugs, ticlopidine and clopidogrel. Recently, we cloned a human orphan receptor, SP1999, highly expressed in brain and platelets, which responded to ADP and had a pharmacological profile similar to that of P2Y12. To determine whether SP1999 is P2Y12, we generated SP1999-null mice. These mice appear normal, but they exhibit highly prolonged bleeding times, and their platelets aggregate poorly in responses to ADP and display a reduced sensitivity to thrombin and collagen. These platelets retain normal shape change and calcium flux in response to ADP but fail to inhibit adenylyl cyclase. In addition, oral clopidogrel does not inhibit aggregation responses to ADP in these mice. These results demonstrate that SP1999 is indeed the elusive receptor, P2Y12. Identification of the target receptor of the thienopyridine drugs affords us a better understanding of platelet function and provides tools that may lead to the discovery of more effective antithrombotic therapies.

Evaluation of the efficacy of felodipine in two models of acute renal failure in dogs.

Acute renal failure was induced in pentobarbital anesthetized dogs either by withdrawal of the blood and/or by acute renal artery occlusion and efficacy of felodipine in preserving renal function was evaluated. In Wiggers' model of hemorrhagic shock, animals were allowed to bleed into a reservoir and after maintaining a hypotensive state (40-45 mm Hg) for 150 minutes, blood was reinfused and recovery in the renal function was evaluated. In a separate series, a renal artery was completely occluded for 45 minutes and after release of the occlusion recoveries in various markers of renal function were monitored. Felodipine 0.01 mumol/kg i.v. or the vehicle was administered ten minutes before hemorrhage or ten minutes prior to initiation of renal artery occlusion. Comparison of the data between the vehicle-treated dogs from the two models show that although renal blood flow (RBF) was restored to similar levels, recoveries in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urine volume (UV), urinary excretion of sodium (UNa V) and potassium (UK V) were severely depressed in shock model (15 to 25% of the basal value) and consistently lower than the recoveries in the renal artery occlusion model (30-50%). These data could suggest that the extent of renal impairment is more severe in hemorrhagic shock. Nevertheless, felodipine pretreatment provided significant protection to renal function from ischemic damage in both the models; the drug-treated groups were characterized by significant recoveries in GFR, UNa V and UK V (60-100%) and by prompt and full restoration of RBF and UV.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Disparate effects of thrombin receptor activating peptide on platelets and peripheral vasculature in rats.

The hemodynamic and platelet effects of the thrombin receptor activating peptide SFLLRN (TRAP) were evaluated in rats. TRAP failed to aggregate rat platelets in vitro (platelet rich plasma) or in vivo in the pulmonary microcirculation. In contrast, TRAP aggregated washed human platelets. Intravenous injection of TRAP (1 mg/kg) in inactin-anesthetized rats produced a biphasic response in blood pressure characterized by an initial depressor response (-25 +/- 3 mmHg for 15-30 s) followed by a pronounced pressor response (50 +/- 7 mmHg for 2-3 min). This increase in blood pressure can be attributed to increases in total peripheral resistance since cardiac output remained unchanged. Further, only the pressor responses were observed in pithed rats suggesting a direct effect of TRAP in causing smooth muscle contraction. Consequently, rat platelets differ from human platelets in that they are resistant to TRAP whereas rat vasculature is highly sensitive to TRAP. These observations suggest that while the thrombin receptors on rat vasculature may be similar to those on human platelets, the receptors and/or the coupling mechanisms in rat platelets appear different from human platelets.

Renal failure in haemorrhagic shock in dogs: salutary effects of the calcium entry blocker felodipine.

The efficacy of felodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium entry blocker to restore renal function was investigated in Wiggers model of haemorrhagic shock. Mongrel dogs were anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbital and subjected to haemorrhagic shock by allowing the animals to bleed into a reservoir. After maintaining the hypotensive state (mean blood pressure 40-45 mm Hg) for a period of 150 min, the blood was reinfused and the recovery of the various parameters were monitored for an additional 120 min. These studies were conducted in three different groups of dogs: (A) Solvent control, (B) Felodipine 0.01 mumol/kg i.v., administered 10 min prior to reinfusion of the blood, and (C) Felodipine 0.01 mumol/kg i.v., administered prior to haemorrhage. In all the three groups arterial blood pressure returned to similar basal levels following reinfusion. Felodipine administration prior to haemorrhage or before reinfusion (Group B and C) resulted in a 80-95% recovery in the renal blood flow, 60-65% in the glomerular filtration rate, 150-300% in the urine volume and 80-100% in the urinary sodium and potassium excretions. In the vehicle-treated control group, despite a 45% recovery in the renal blood flow, renal function was not restored following reinfusion. The observations made in these studies suggest that felodipine, an arteriolar dilator which also possesses natriuretic properties, could be clinically useful in the treatment of renal failure in haemorrhagic shock. Prevention of cellular calcium overload during ischaemia and reperfusion by this dihydropyridine derivative, may account for its ability to preserve vascular as well as tubular function.

Inhibition of endothelial derived relaxing factor (EDRF) aggravates ischemic acute renal failure in anesthetized rats.

The relative importance of endothelial derived relaxing factor (EDRF)/nitric oxide (NO) in maintaining kidney function in normal condition and in acute renal failure (ARF) were evaluated in inactin anesthetized rats. ARF was induced by unilateral occlusion of the left renal artery (40 min) followed by reperfusion, with the contralateral kidney serving as normal control. This protocol resulted in marked reductions in renal plasma flow (RPF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and increases in fractional sodium excretion (FENa) and urinary protein excretion in the post-ischemic kidney in comparison to the contralateral normal kidney. Administration of the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor NG--monomethyl-L-arginine (0.25 mg/kg per min, L-NMMA) exacerbated the ischemia-induced changes in renal functions as reflected by further reductions in urine flow (V), GFR, marked sodium wasting and renal edema. Pretreatment of the animals with NO precursor L-arginine (2.5 mg/kg per min, L-Arg) abolished the detrimental effects of L-NMMA in ARF. In contrast, D-Arginine (2.5 mg/kg per min, D-Arg) failed to reverse the detrimental effects of L-NMMA. Infusion of L-Arg alone also resulted in improvements in RPF and GFR in the ischemic kidney. The results of the present study suggest that the function of the ischemic kidney is sustained by EDRF/NO and is thus more sensitive to NO synthase inhibition.

Evaluation of the effects of dopexamine, a novel DA1 receptor and beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist, on cardiac function and splanchnic circulation in a canine model of hemorrhagic shock.

In the present studies, the efficacy of dopexamine hydrochloride, a novel DA1-receptor and beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist in preventing deterioration of cardiovascular function in a canine model of hemorrhagic shock was investigated. Pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs were allowed to bleed into a height-regulated reservoir and the hypotensive state (about 40 mmHg) was maintained for a period of 150 min. Subsequently, blood was reinfused and recoveries in various hemodynamic variables were monitored for an additional period of 120 min. Either aqueous solvent or dopexamine HCl was randomly selected for i.v. infusion beginning 30 min before reinfusion of the blood and until the termination of the experiment. In the solvent-treated control group, various cardiovascular variables such as cardiac output, stroke volume, celiac and superior mesenteric arterial blood flows progressively declined to 50% or less of the basal values; these changes were associated with sustained increases in the regional as well as systemic vascular resistances. Dopexamine infusion lowered vascular resistances and facilitated recoveries in various hemodynamic variables to 80% to 100% of the basal values after reinfusion of the shed blood. With the exception of a transient inotropic effect during reinfusion in the dopexamine treated group, there were no essential alterations in the myocardial contractility, during the hypotensive state and/or after reinfusion of the blood. Hence, the results indicate that the efficacy of dopexamine to reduce vascular resistance by actions at DA1-receptors and beta 2-adrenoceptors would account for its ability to improve myocardial performance (secondary to reductions in afterload) and restoration of mesenteric and celiac hemodynamics.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparative evaluation of the effects of felodipine, hydralazine, and naloxone on the survival rate in rats subjected to a "fixed volume" model of hemorrhagic shock.

Felodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist with potent arteriolar dilator properties, has been shown to enhance renal, mesenteric, coronary, and cerebral blood flows in intact animals as well as in man and to prevent deterioration of renal and mesenteric blood flows in Wiggers' model of hemorrhagic shock in dogs. In the present studies, efficacy of felodipine on 72 hr survival of rats subjected to an acute withdrawal of 40% of the blood volume was investigated. Shed blood was not reinfused in the present studies. Felodipine, whether administered before or after hemorrhage, facilitated dose-dependent increases in the survival rate up to 95%, whereas in the vehicle-treated group, the survival rate was 33%. Hydralazine, also an arteriolar dilator, in equi-hypotensive doses was not as effective as the calcium antagonist. Effects of felodipine are comparable to that of naloxone in enhancing survival. These data suggest that the salutary effects of felodipine can be related to its calcium antagonistic as well as arteriolar dilator properties.

Interaction between atrial natriuretic factor and ouabain: vascular reactivity to noradrenaline in pentobarbital anaesthetized dogs.

1. The influence of intra-arterial infusion of rat atrial natriuretic factor (ANF 8-33) and/or ouabain on the vascular responses to noradrenaline was investigated in the denervated and flow-controlled hindlimb preparations in pentobarbital anaesthetized dogs. 2. During the continuous infusions of ANF (30-40 min) vascular responses to noradrenaline were significantly depressed. Subsequent infusion of ouabain together with ANF (50-60 min) reversed and restored the vascular reactivity to the control levels. Hypotension produced by ANF infusion was partially reversed during the simultaneous infusions of both the agents. 3. In a separate series of experiments, in which ouabain was first infused (50-60 min) vascular responses to noradrenaline were significantly enhanced. Subsequent infusions of ANF (plus ouabain) even up to 60 min or longer failed to alter the enhanced vascular responsiveness facilitated by ouabain. 4. The present studies demonstrate a physiological antagonism between ANF and ouabain and such a phenomenon could account for the previous observation that vascular reactivity to noradrenaline was progressively enhanced after acute blood volume expansion. Whereas plasma levels of both ANF and ouabain-like inhibitor(s) of the sodium pump are elevated after volume expansion, inhibitory effects of ANF on the vascular smooth muscle may be compromised in the presence of an Na+ pump inhibitor(s).

Protective effects of dopexamine hydrochloride in renal failure after acute haemorrhage in anaesthetized dogs.

1. The present studies are designed to investigate whether dopexamine hydrochloride, a DA-1 receptor and beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist, is effective in preventing renal failure in Wiggers model of haemorrhagic shock in dogs. 2. Pentobarbital anaesthetized dogs were allowed to bleed into a reservoir and a hypotensive state (40-50 mmHg) was maintained for 120 min; subsequently blood was reinfused and recoveries in renal blood flow (RBF) and in various parameters reflecting renal function were monitored for an additional 150 min. 3. In the vehicle treated control group, despite a 45% recovery in the RBF, renal function was totally impaired. In the dopexamine treated groups, 80% recovery in RBF was accompanied by 60-120% recoveries in various indices of renal function such as GFR, UV, UNaV, after reinfusion of the shed blood. These salutary effects of DPX were dose dependent and were abolished by a selective DA-1 antagonist, SCH 23390. 4. These data suggest that the renal vasodilatory, natriuretic and diuretic effects of dopexamine and its ability to restore renal function after haemorrhagic shock are due to a direct action on the renal vascular and tubular DA-1 receptors. These studies demonstrate potential therapeutic usefulness of this agent in preventing renal failure.

Cyclic GMP but not cyclic AMP prevents renal platelet accumulation after ischemia-reperfusion in anesthetized rats.

Platelets have been implicated in the pathophysiology of ischemia-reperfusion injury. In this study, antiplatelet effects of cyclic GMP (cGMP)- and cyclic AMP (cAMP)-mediated agents were evaluated in renal ischemia in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. Renal ischemia was induced by unilateral occlusion of the left renal artery (40 min) followed by reperfusion (30 min) with the contralateral kidney serving as control. 111Indium-labeled platelets, drugs or vehicle were administered 30 min before induction of renal ischemia. Occlusion of the left renal artery for 20, 40 or 60 min resulted in a 100, 300 and 600% increase (over contralateral right kidney) in the platelet-associated 111indium activity in the ischemic kidney. In all subsequent studies the kidney was occluded for 40 min to test the antiplatelet activity of individual agents. 8-Br-cGMP (0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg/min i.v.), zaprinast (0.1 mg/kg/min i.v.) and sodium nitroprusside (0.003 and 0.01 mg/kg/min i.v.) significantly attenuated platelet accumulation in renal ischemia, whereas 8-Br-cAMP (0.3 mg/kg/min i.v.) or milrinone (0.1 mg/kg i.v. bolus, plus 0.01 mg/kg/min) did not. Minoxidil (0.01 and 0.03 mg/kg/min i.v.), a vasodilator which produced equihypotensive effects as the cGMP-mediated agents, and milrinone failed to prevent platelet accumulation. These results demonstrate that modulation of the platelet function by cGMP agents can be dissociated from their blood pressure lowering effects. cGMP is known to inhibit both platelet adhesion and aggregation, whereas cAMP is only active against aggregation. The present findings provide further evidence that cGMP-mediated drugs may afford effective antiplatelet action in an in vivo model of ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Efficacy and mechanisms of dopexamine in the prevention of ischemia-reperfusion induced organ damage: role of oxygen free radicals.

The studies reported in this article provide evidence that several complex mechanisms are involved in the ability of dopexamine HCl (DPX) in preventing ischemia-reperfusion induced organ damage. In a canine model of hemorrhagic shock in which shed-blood was reinfused, DPX prevented deterioration in renal blood flow via an action on beta-2 and DA-1 receptors, whereas its ability to preserve tubular function was essentially due its agonistic effects on DA-1 receptors. In a different experimental model in anesthetized rats, acute generation of oxygen free radicals (OFR) via intravenous administration of Xanthine (X) followed by Xanthine Oxidase (XO) resulted in depression of circulation and death of more than 80% of the animals within the observation period of 120 min. Pretreatment of the rats with DPX significantly enhanced survival rate in a dose dependent manner to about 70%. Neither dobutamine nor prenalterol, which are beta-1 adrenoceptor agonists and like DPX, potent chronotropic and inotropic agents were effective in preventing OFR induced lethal toxicity. In a separate series, a selective DA-1 receptor agonist felodopam had no protective effect and a DA-1 receptor antagonist SCH-23390 failed to antagonize the salutary effects of DPX. In contrast, salbutamol, a selective beta-2 adrenoceptor agonist significantly promoted the survival rate facilitated by DPX and a selective beta-2 adrenoceptor antagonist, ICI-558,551 significantly attenuated the survival rate. These later studies suggest that unlike in hemorrhagic shock, the beta-2 adrenoceptor agonistic properties are critical in the ability of DPX to attenuate lethal toxicity and these effects could be related to prevention of lipid peroxidation induced by oxygen free radicals.