Araguspongines B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and J, new vasodilative bis-1-oxaquinolizidine alkaloids from an okinawan marine sponge, Xestospongia sp

Nine new vasodilative alkaloids, araguspongines A, B (1), C (2), D (3), E (4), F (5), G (6), H (7), and J (8), were isolated from an Okinawan marine sponge, Xestospongia sp. On the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence, the absolute stereostructures of araguspongines B, D, E, F, G, H, and J were determined respectively as 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and the relative stereostructure of araguspongine C was determined as 2 having two 1-oxaquinolizidine moieties. Araguspongines B, D, and E each comprised a pair of the enantiomers, 1a and 1b, 3a and 3b, and 4a and 4b, respectively.

Evidence that inhibitory factor extracted from bovine retractor penis is nitrite, whose acid-activated derivative is stabilized nitric oxide

1. Unactivated extracts of bovine retractor penis (BRP) contains 3-7 microM nitrite. Acid-activation of these extracts at pH 2 for 10 min followed by neutralization generates the active form of inhibitory factor (IF; assayed by its vasodilator action on rabbit aorta), and is associated with partial loss of nitrite. 2. Increasing the time of acid-activation at pH 2 from 10 to 60 min with intermittent vortex mixing generates greater vasodilator activity and increases nitrite loss. 3. When acid-activated and neutralized extracts are incubated at 37 degrees C or 30 min or boiled for 5 min, vasodilator activity is lost and nitrite content increased. Reactivation of these samples at pH 2 for 10 min followed by neutralization leads to partial recoveries of vasodilator activity with loss in nitrite content. 4. Addition of sodium nitrite to BRP extracts increases acid-activatable vasodilator activity pro rata. 5. Acid-activation of aqueous sodium nitrite solutions results in less loss of nitrite and generation of less vasodilator activity than BRP extracts. Vasodilatation is only transient and is rapidly abolished on neutralization, whereas responses to acid-activated BRP extracts are more prolonged and activity is stable on ice. 6. Bovine aortic endothelial cells yield vasodilator activity that is indistinguishable from that isolated from BRP. It is activated by acid, stable on ice, abolished by boiling or by haemoglobin, and appears to be due to the generation of nitric oxide (NO) from nitrite. 7. The data provide confirmatory evidence that nitrite in BRP extracts is IF, that acid-activation of BRP extracts yields NO which is responsible for its vasodilator action, and that inactivation occurs by decay of NO to nitrite and nitrate. They further suggest that BRP extracts contain a NO-stabilizing agent which favours conversion of nitrite to NO. 8. The finding that bovine aortic endothelial cells yield an agent indistinguishable from IF suggests that nitrite in endothelial cells may likewise be the precursor of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF), itself identified as NO.

Endothelium-dependent relaxation of canine basilar arteries. Part 2: Inhibition by hemoglobin and cerebrospinal fluid from patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

The effects of hemoglobin and cerebrospinal fluid from patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (CSF-SAH) on endothelium-dependent relaxation were studied. At 10(-6) M, hemoglobin somewhat inhibited the endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by A23187 in rings of canine basilar artery. At 3 X 10(-6) M, it almost completely inhibited the same response. At 3 X 10(-6) M, hemoglobin did not significantly inhibit smooth muscle relaxation mechanisms as papaverine-induced relaxation was not inhibited by hemoglobin. It was also demonstrated that pretreatment of arterial rings with CSF-SAH resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of relaxation induced by A23187. The inhibitory effect of CSF-SAH was prominent in the case in which a high oxyhemoglobin concentration was measured by spectrophotometry. Normal CSF from patients without SAH did not affect endothelium-dependent relaxation. These results suggest that hemoglobin released from lysed erythrocytes inhibits endothelium-dependent relaxation of canine basilar arteries and may also play an important role in the pathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Endothelium-dependent relaxation of canine basilar arteries. Part 1: Difference between acetylcholine- and A23187-induced relaxation and involvement of lipoxygenase metabolite(s)

Vascular responses to acetylcholine (ACh) and the calcium ionophore A23187 were studied in rings of canine basilar arteries. In preparations that were precontracted to a stable plateau by 3 X 10(-6) M prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), 10(-9) to 10(-7) M A23187 elicited significant relaxation of the basilar arteries if the endothelium was intact. Judging from histologic findings, the ability of a ring to relax in this manner is due to the presence of the endothelium. The same concentration of A23187 did not relax vascular tissues in which the endothelium was purposely disrupted. Although 10(-7) to 10(-3) M ACh did not sufficiently produce endothelium-dependent relaxation of canine basilar artery rings, ACh in the same concentration did produce significant relaxation in canine femoral rings. Our results suggest that the sensitivity of the muscarinic receptor of cerebral arteries appears to be appreciably different from that of peripheral (femoral) arteries. Pretreatment with 1.5 X 10(-5) M indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, potentiated the contractile responses produced by PGF2 alpha in intact rings. Preincubation with the lipoxygenase inhibitors nordihydroguaiaretic acid at (NDGA) at 1.5 X 10(-5) M or AA861 at 10(-5) M prevented A23187-induced relaxation. The same concentration of NDGA and AA861 did not affect endothelium-independent relaxation induced by glyceryl trinitrate. We suggest that endothelium-dependent relaxation of the canine basilar artery by A23187 may be mediated by noncyclooxygenase metabolite(s).

Vasodilatation and the discovery of endothelium-derived relaxing factor

Whether endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) is important in the physiology and pathology of vascular reactivity must await the discovery of the nature of the factor and an appropriate antagonist substance. Nevertheless the demonstration that EDRF is powerful, short-lived and can be released by a wide variety of stimuli adds a new dimension to our knowledge of the control of the circulation. The macroenvironment of the vessel wall is influenced by nerves, blood-borne factors and the architecture of the wall. The discovery of a role of the endothelial cell has for the first time forced pharmacologists to consider cell-cell interactions in the micro-environment of the blood-vessel wall. This is a potentially important target for new therapy.

Stabilization and partial characterization of endothelium-derived relaxing factor from cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells

The extreme lability of the chemically undefined vasoregulatory mediator, endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF), has been overcome. The activity of EDRF, from cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells stimulated with A23187, was stabilized by acidification. An additional action of EDRF, platelet disaggregation was used as a sensitive and convenient bioassay to monitor purification. EDRF appears to be a hydrophilic molecule, rapidly inactivated under alkaline conditions. However, activity is restored upon reacidification suggesting that this instability results from a readily reversible chemical process. The stabilization and partial purification of EDRF sets the stage for its further biochemical and chemical characterization.

Dehydropipernonaline, an amide possessing coronary vasodilating activity, isolated from Piper longum L

An amide (dehydropipernonaline) that has coronary vasorelaxant activity was isolated from the fruit of Piper longum L. This substance was characterized on the basis of spectroscopic data.

Neuroendocrine heart and hypothalamus

Data on the endocrine heart--neurosecretory cells of heart, producing coronary-dilatory, metabolically active glycopeptides with physico-chemical and biological properties similar to those of previously discovered cardioactive hypothalamic neurohormones--are summarized. Heart hormones participate in both local and distant regulation of heart metabolism and function. Formation and action of these heart hormones is closely related to hypothalamic cardioactive neurohormones K, C, and G and their protein precursors. Neurohormones from heart and hypothalamus comprise a system of neurohumoral connections between these two organs. A possible role of APUD cells in the generation of a number of heart peptides and glycopeptides exerting hormonal activity is discussed.

Amauromine, a new vasodilator. Taxonomy, isolation and characterization

Amauromine is a new alkaloid with vasodilating activity obtained from the culture broth of Amauroascus sp. No. 6237. Its molecular formula was determined to be C32H36N4O2 on the basis of elementary analysis and high resolution mass spectroscopic measurement. It has low toxicity in mice.

Rat atrial natriuretic factor. Purification and vasorelaxant activity

The atrial natriuretic activity of rat heart has been found to exist in multiple forms. One of these factors has been purified to apparent homogeneity by a combination of gel filtration and high pressure liquid chromatography in two different systems and its amino acid composition determined. The purified active peptide is shown to have a molecular weight of approximately 3800. In addition, the vasorelaxant activity of rat atrium has been purified and found to co-chromatograph with the natriuretic activity in all chromatographic systems employed. Thus, the vasorelaxant activity resides in the natriuretic factor. The existence of this new multifunctional peptide implies a higher level of complexity for cardiovascular control of blood volume and pressure.

Studies on new vasodilators, WS-1228 A and B. I. Discovery, taxonomy, isolation and characterization

New vasodilators, designated WS-1228 A and B have been discovered in the culture filtrate of a strain of Streptomyces aureofaciens. The active compounds were purified by column chromatography with Diaion HP-20 and silica gel, and finally separated from each other by high performance liquid chromatography. They were obtained as pale yellow crystals and their molecular formulae were both C11H17N3O.

Derivation of antihypertensive neutral renomedullary lipid from renal venous effluent

The ANRL was derived from the renal venous effluent as the kidney exerted its nonexcretory antihypertensive function. This was made possible by three developments: (1) improvement in the extraction of ANRL from fresh renal medulla; (2) the fact that purified ANRL caused an acute vasodepressor effect (acted as a vasodilator); and (3) experience with unclipping the one-kidney, one-clip hypertensive rat. Unclipping after an anastomosis between the ureter and the vena cava caused the MAP to return to normal levels in an average of 20 hr. At an average of 5 hr, when the MAP had dropped an average of 34 mm Hg (from approximately 190), an exchange infusion was started and blood was collected from the renal vein. The plasma was separated, lyophilized, and extracted for total lipids. The lipids were subjected to two TLC procedures and tested for vasodepressor activity. Renal venous effluent, under those conditions, yielded a considerable amount of vasodepressor lipid that was similar to that derived from fresh renal medulla. Controls (normal, nephrectomized, and hypertensive animals) yielded little or no such lipid. Indomethacin did not interfere with the derivation of the vasodepressor lipid. As the MAP was lowered and the ANRL-like lipid appeared in the renal venous blood, the RICs degranulated. The RICs appear to be the source of the antihypertensive lipid.

Purification of a peptide with venoconstrictor and vasodepressor activity, from Cohn fraction III-O of human plasma protein

Cohn fraction III-O of human plasma proteins has previously been shown to contain a peptide which produces vasodilator responses in intact vascular beds. This peptide has bradykinin-like pharmacological actions but it can be distinguished from bradykinin. A process of serial fractionation of Cohn fraction III-O on Sephadex CM-25 and G-25 gels, followed by ion exchange chromatography with gradient elution on a Bio-Rex 70 column and subsequent desalting has permitted purification of this peptide. Amino acid analysis suggested a peptide with 14 amino acyl-residues and a calculated molecular weight of 1,780. The purified material retained the vasodilator properties of impure sources of the peptide, but was highly unstable. There was no interaction with anti-bradykinin antibodies.