Alpha-adrenoceptor-mediated actions of optical isomers and desoxy analogs of catecholimidazoline and norepinephrine in human platelets: in vitro

Apparent heterogeneous responsiveness of human platelet rich plasma to catecholamines

The platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from 35 healthy Korean volunteers were challenged by four catecholamines and clonidine, which were known as alpha-adrenergic agonists. Wide individual variations were observed with the respect to the pattern and the degree of aggregation in response to each agent. They fall into five distinct groups; Group A (2.9%) was responsive to all five agonists; Group B (28.6%) aggregated in response to (-)-epinephrine, (-)- norepinephrine and epinine; Group C (37.1%) aggregated in response to (-)-epinephrine and (-)-norepinephrine;Group D (11.4%) aggregated only by (-)-epinephrine; Group E (20%) showed impaired responsiveness to all the alpha-agonists tested. All of the non-responding PRP were capable of induction of aggregation in response to (-)-epinephrine, (-)-norepinephrine and epinine in the presence of near-threshold concentration of collagen. Variations were also observed between groups with dopamine and clonidine. Dopamine and clonidine failed to induce secondary aggregation, even in the presence of low concentration of collagen, in most of the PRP preparations belonging to Groups D and E and only slight improvements were observed in the preparations belonging to groups Band C. The observation on heterogeneous responsiveness to catecholamines with PRP of Korean volunteers is quite different from the previous report with PRP of presumably mostly Caucasians.

Epinephrine induced platelet aggregation in rat platelet-rich plasma

Epinephrine at even high concentrations neither caused shape change nor aggregation of rat platelets. However, epinephrine induced aggregation in the presence of low (near-threshold) concentrations of collagen at which concentration only platelet shape change was induced without aggregation. The platelet aggregation was also induced by some other catecholamines and clonidine but not by beta-agonist isoproterenol. The aggregatory potencies of R-(-)-isomers, (-)-epinephrine and (-)-norepinephrine were higher than the corresponding desoxy derivatives, epinine and dopamine. In addition, the epinephrine-induced rat platelet aggregation was inhibited by alpha2-antagonists, yohimbine and phentolamine, but not by alpha1-antagonist prazosin or beta-antagonist propranolol. These results suggested that the epinephrine-induced rat platelet aggregation is occurring through alpha2-adrenergic receptors as is the case with human platelets.

Synthesis, structure and antiaggregatory effects of some N-(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)indoles

A series of 1-(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)indole derivatives was prepared in order to evaluate their antiaggregatory activity in human platelets. The compounds 4a-m were prepared by reacting N-aryl-N-(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)hydroxylamines (2a-d) with monosubstituted acetylene derivatives 3a-b. Imidazoline derivatives 4 were further acetylated or sulfonylated to give amides 5a-c and sulfonamides 6a-c and 7a-c, respectively. Eight compounds were taken as representative aryliminoimidazoline analogs. Among them only one, 4m, showed a good concentration-dependent action against the primary or alpha 2-adrenoreceptor mediated phase of noradrenaline-induced aggregation in platelets.

Halogen-substituted trimetoquinol analogs as thromboxane A2 receptor antagonists in platelets and aorta

Trimetoquinol (TMQ) is a non-prostanoid compound that blocks prostaglandin H2/thromboxane A2 (TXA2) receptor-mediated responses initiated by a prostaglandin (PG) H2 analog, U46619, in human platelets and rat aorta. Ring fluorine-substituted TMQ analogs selectively antagonized PG-dependent human platelet activation induced by U46619, arachidonic acid, collagen, ADP or epinephrine; and were about 300-fold less potent as inhibitors of PG-independent responses mediated by thrombin or bacterial phospholipase C. For each inducer of the PG-dependent pathway, the rank order of inhibitory potency was identical (TMQ > 8-fluoro-TMQ > 5-fluoro- TMQ). Iodine substitution yielded a similar rank order of antagonism against U46619-induced platelet activation (TMQ > 8-iodo-TMQ > 5-iodo-TMQ), and all TMQ analogs inhibited platelet aggregation in whole blood as well as in platelet-rich plasma. Inhibition of specific [3H]SQ 29,548 binding by TMQ analogs was highly correlated with inhibition of functional responses to U46619. Radioligand binding experiments using TMQ analogs with rat platelets showed no interspecies difference in comparison with human platelets. The rank order of inhibitory potencies for the fluorinated (but not iodinated) TMQ analogs changed in rat thoracic aorta with 8-fluoro-TMQ > TMQ > or = 5-fluoro-TMQ as antagonists of U46619-induced vascular contraction. These findings demonstrate that the primary mechanism of antiplatelet action of TMQ analogs is related to a blockade of TXA2 receptor sites, and ring-halogenated TMQ analogs distinguish between TXA2-mediated functional responses in vascular smooth muscle and platelets.

Platelet α2-adrenoreceptors in depression: a critical examination

During the past decade, results from radioligand studies comparing platelet α(2)-adrenoreceptors in depressed patients and healthy volunteers have been inconsistent, especially when related to the known functional characteristics of these receptors. Despite the availability of radioligands for α(2)-adrenoreceptors, inherent methodological problems exist which make data from these studies difficult to interpret. The authors review the overall data from radioligand studies using [(3)H] clonidine and [(3)H] yohimbine of platelet α(2)-adrenoreceptors in depressed patients and healthy volunteers. Theoretical and methodological issues are critically examined in the light of recent findings. Finally, alternative strategies for studying α( 2)-adrenoreceptors in clinical populations are considered.

Diversity of the pharmacological actions of some tolazoline analogues in human platelets and rat aorta

Tolazoline and two 4'-substituted benzyl analogues, 2-(4'-aminobenzyl) imidazoline (ABI) and 2-(4'-isothiocyanatobenzyl)imidazoline (IBI) were synthesized and evaluated for adrenoceptor activity in human platelets (alpha 2) and rat aorta (alpha 1), respectively. IBI was prepared as an affinity label for alpha-adrenoceptors and compared with chloroethylclonidine. Tolazoline, IBI, ABI and chloroethylclonidine inhibited the primary and secondary waves of epinephrine-induced human platelet aggregation. In aspirin treated platelets, primary wave aggregatory responses to epinephrine were blocked in a competitive manner by tolazoline, ABI. IBI and chloroethylclonidine giving pA2 values of 6.33, 6.12, 4.71 and 5.70, respectively. Only IBI blocked the aggregation responses to ADP (secondary wave only) arachidonic acid and U46619 (a thromboxane A2 agonist). Arachidonic acid-induced serotonin release and malondialdehyde formation and thrombin-induced release of [3H]arachidonic acid from membrane phospholipids were also blocked by IBI. These data indicate that IBI blocks arachidonic acid release, prostaglandin biosynthesis and the action of thromboxane A2. One hour exposure of aspirin treated platelets with IBI abolished inhibitory effects against epinephrine induced aggregation. In contrast to human platelets, both ABI and IBI produced contractions of rat aorta; however, only the responses to ABI were blocked in a competitive manner by the alpha-antagonists, phentolamine, prazosin, and SKF 104078. Moreover, idazoxan blocked the stimulatory actions of IBI, cirazoline and phenylephrine on rat aorta.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Potent antiplatelet effects of cyclic clofibric acid (CPIB) analogs on human platelets

CPIB possesses antiplatelet as well as hypolipidemic activities. Two cyclic CPIB analogs, 6-phenylchroman-2-carboxylic acid (PCCA) and 6-cyclohexylchroman-2-carboxylic acid (CHCCA) were also found to be antagonists of the prostaglandin (PG)-dependent pathway of human platelet activation. PCCA and CHCCA were inhibitors of aggregation (AGG) and secretion (SEC) induced by ADP or epinephrine (E) [second waves only] and arachidonic acid (AA) with IC50 values ranging from 2.3-8.7 microM for PCCA and 3.7-12.1 microM for CHCCA. Neither compound antagonized the proaggregatory effects of the thromboxane A2 (TXA2) receptor agonist, U46619. CPIB blocked ADP and E-induced AGG and SEC (IC50's greater than 1200 microM) but not AA- or U46619-induced responses. Only CPIB blocked thrombin-induced AA release. Data showed that PCCA and CHCCA inhibited AA-induced malondialdehyde formation (IC50's = 9.3 and 11.3 microM, respectively) and thrombin-induced production of prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin F2 alpha, and TXB2 with IC50's ranging from 2.9 to 13.4 microM. PCCA and CHCCA were at least 200- to 500-fold more potent than CPIB as inhibitors of the PG-dependent pathway of human platelet activation. We conclude that PCCA and CHCCA act by inhibiting platelet cyclooxygenase activity whereas CPIB blocks the activity of phospholipase A2. Hypolipidemic PCCA and CHCCA represent a potent class of cyclooxygenase inhibitors which may be more useful than CPIB for treatment of atherosclerotic and thrombotic disorders.

Inhibition of human platelet aggregation and secretion by ant venom and a compound isolated from venom

Venom from the tropical ant, Pseudomyrmex triplarinus, has activity against rheumatoid arthritis. Since platelets are involved in inflammatory responses, they were employed to study the effects of venom on prostaglandin-dependent human platelet aggregation and secretion. The assay is very sensitive and uses microliter volumes, which makes it useful as a screen during isolation and characterization of venom components. Whole venom inhibited arachidonic acid- and U46619-induced platelet aggregation with IC50s of 45 and 39 micrograms/ml, respectively. This suggested that venom prevented the action of prostaglandins. Pure venom was fractionated by gel filtration and at least three materials with antiplatelet activity were detected. The smallest component (factor F) was most active and was purified by additional molecular filtration and characterized by UV absorbance, thin-layer chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, and activity to platelets. Factor F was identified as adenosine, which is known to stimulate platelet adenylate cyclase and has not been previously reported to be a component of insect venom.