Attenuation of noradrenergic neurotransmission by the thromboxane synthetase inhibitor, UK 38,485

Effects of thromboxane agonists on cardiac adrenergic neurotransmission

The effects of thromboxane B2 (TxB2) and of two thromboxane mimetics, dl-(9,11), (11,12)-dimethano-TxA2 (ONO 11006) and 9,11-dideoxy-11,9-epoxymethano prostaglandin F2 alpha (U46619) on the cardiac response to adrenergic nerve stimulation in isolated guinea-pig atria were evaluated. All the agonists dose dependently reduced the positive inotropic effect induced by field stimulation, U46619 being the most active. The inhibitory effect of U46619 was reduced by the thromboxane receptor antagonists, sulotroban and AH 23848B. U46619 did not significantly reduce the positive inotropic effect induced by exogenous noradrenaline. However U46619 was unable to modify the tritium overflow induced by field stimulation in preparations preloaded with [3H]noradrenaline. In addition to this influence on adrenergic neurotransmission, U46619 also had a direct positive inotropic effect on cardiac contractility, which was antagonized by AH 23848B. These results indicate that U46619 reduces the cardiac response to sympathetic nerve stimulation and that is also has a direct stimulatory effect on cardiac muscle.

Mechanism of analgesic effect of clonidine in the treatment of dysmenorrhea

Clonidine substantially reduces the pain and cramping of dysmenorrhea. The mechanisms for this effect may lie in increased release of analgesic opioids. It is suggested that perhaps a thromboxane synthetase inhibitor such as ginger which activates endorphin receptors may also be an effective treatment.

Angiotensin and thromboxane in the enhanced renal adrenergic nerve sensitivity of acute renal failure

The roles of intrarenal angiotensin (A) and thromboxane (TX) in the vascular hypersensitivity to renal nerve stimulation (RNS) and paradoxical vasoconstriction to renal perfusion pressure (RPP) reduction in the autoregulatory range in 1 wk norepinephrine (NE)-induced acute renal failure (ARF) in rats were investigated. Renal blood flow (RBF) responses were determined before and during intrarenal infusion of an AII and TXA2 antagonist. Saralasin or SQ29548 alone partially corrected the slopes of RBF to RNS and RPP reduction in NE-ARF rats (P less than 0.02). Saralasin + SQ29548 normalized the RBF response to RNS. While combined saralasin + SQ29548 eliminated the vasoconstriction to RPP reduction, similar to the effect of renal denervation, appropriate vasodilatation was not restored. Renal vein norepinephrine efflux during RNS was disproportionately increased in NE-ARF (P less than 0.001) and was suppressed by saralasin + SQ29548 infusion (P less than 0.005). It is concluded that the enhanced sensitivity to RNS and paradoxical vasoconstriction to RPP reduction in 1 wk NE-ARF kidneys are the result of intrarenal TX and AII acceleration of neurotransmitter release to adrenergic nerve activity.

Influence of SQ 29,548 on vasoconstrictor responses in the mesenteric vascular bed of the cat

The effects of SQ 29,548 on vasoconstrictor responses were investigated in the feline mesenteric vascular bed. Injections of the thromboxane (TX) A2 mimics, U46619 and U44069, caused dose-related increases in mesenteric arterial perfusion pressure. After administration of SQ 29,548, 0.5 mg/kg i.v, vasoconstrictor responses to U46619 and U44069 were reduced markedly whereas responses to prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha, angiotensin II, vasopressin and BAY K 8644, an agent which enhances calcium entry, were not altered. The duration of the TXA2 receptor blockade was greater than 2 h and SQ 29,548 had no significant effect on mesenteric vasodilator responses to PGE2, isoproterenol, nitroglycerin, acetylcholine or bradykinin. SQ 29,548, at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg i.v., significantly reduced the response to TXB2, which had modest vasoconstrictor activity in the mesenteric vascular bed. However, when the dose of SQ 29,548 was reduced to 0.05 mg/kg i.v., responses to TXB2 were not altered, whereas responses to U46619 were significantly decreased. SQ 29,548 had no significant effect on vasoconstrictor responses to norepinephrine or to sympathetic nerve stimulation. The TXA2 receptor antagonist blocked the vasoconstrictor component of the biphasic response to the PG precursor, arachidonic acid, and the endoperoxide, PGH2. The results of these studies suggest that SQ 29,548 is a specific TX receptor antagonist in the mesenteric vascular bed, that the vasoconstrictor component of the biphasic response to arachidonic acid and PGH2 is due to formation of TXA2, and that endogenously formed TXA2 does not modulate adrenergic responses in the mesenteric circulation of the cat.

Inhibiting noradrenergic overactivity by inhibition of thromboxane and concomitant activation of opiate receptors via dietary means

A yin-yang hypothesis is presented linking noradrenergic activity, thromboxane, melatonin, left hemisphere functioning, and cyclic AMP on the one hand, and dopamine, beta-endorphin, calcium, right hemisphere functioning, and cyclic GMP on the other. It is further suggested that there is a yoking of NA, TXA2, serotonin and melatonin in the left hemisphere, and a similar yoking of DA, BE, calcium and cGMP in the right. Evidence is presented to support the hypothesis that each element (NA, TXA2, etc.) on one side can modulate or balance a corresponding element (DA, BE, etc.) on the other. It is suggested that thromboxane is the key element in noradrenergic overactivity and that not taking this into consideration has confounded much prior research. This theory takes into account information processing models as well as pharmacological data and neurochemical theory on coupling of adenylate cyclase to its hormone receptors. Inhibiting noradrenergic overactivity can be obtained by inhibiting thromboxane and concomitantly activating opiate receptors. This protocol may have clinical utility in treating a wide range of disorders such as: anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, sleeplessness, withdrawal states, enuresis, Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, Parkinsonism, Alzheimers, dementia, anorexia, infant ruminations, essential tremor, spasticity of spinal cord injury, diarrhoea, ulcerative colitis, extrapyramidal symptoms, akathisia, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, attention deficit disorder, hyperhidrosis, and possibly AIDS.

Effects of thromboxane synthetase inhibitor (UK 38,485) and thromboxane receptor antagonist (ICI 185,282) on digoxin-induced arrhythmias in anaesthetized guinea-pigs

1. Increased local thromboxane (Tx) formation has been considered to be a contributing factor in digitalis-induced arrhythmias. 2. A potent Tx synthetase inhibitor (TxSI), UK 38,485 (0.1, 1.0 or 10.0 mg/kg per h, administered intravenously) and a Tx receptor antagonist (TxRA), ICI 185,282 (1, 2 or 10 mg/kg bolus and 1, 2 or 10 mg/kg per h, administered intravenously) were tested for their ability to reduce digoxin-induced arrhythmias in anaesthetized guinea-pigs. 3. Electrocardiograms, mean blood pressure, heart rate and arrhythmias were recorded, starting 30 min before digoxin administration and continued for 60 min afterwards. 4. ICI 185,282, at the doses used, significantly delayed the time of onset of arrhythmias, and reduced the incidence of ventricular fibrillation, mortality and arrhythmia score. In contrast, UK 38,485 was found to be effective on all measured variables only at the dose rate of 1.0 mg/kg per h, except for time required for the development of arrhythmias. These protective effects of both TxSI and TxRA were not found to be dose-dependent. 5. Arterial blood pressure and heart rate changes caused by either UK 38,485 or ICI 185,282 infusions did not have any marked effects on digoxin-induced arrhythmias. 6. These data suggest that endogenously released TxA2 and prostaglandin endoperoxides may play an important role in digoxin-induced arrhythmias in guinea-pigs.

Carbon dioxide inhalation therapy for anxiety: effectiveness due to increased prostacyclin and decreased thromboxane biosynthesis? Re-evaluation of a neglected technique

CO2 inhalation has been used for many years in the treatment of various psychiatric and medical disorders and different rationales for its effect have been offered. Since it has been recently found that CO2 inhibits thromboxane biosynthesis and raises levels of prostacyclin, a new rationale for the effect of CO2 inhalation, based on its inhibition of thromboxane biosynthesis, is offered.

Ginger: inhibition of thromboxane synthetase and stimulation of prostacyclin: relevance for medicine and psychiatry

Ginger, the common spice, has recently been found to act as a potent inhibitor of thromboxane synthetase, raising levels of prostacyclin, without a concomitant rise in PGE2 or PGF2 alpha. Indications for use of ginger to replace either thromboxane inhibitors having serious side effects or prostacyclin are given.

Effects of thromboxane synthase inhibition on vascular responsiveness in the in vivo rat mesentery

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of thromboxane synthase inhibition on vascular responsiveness. To achieve this goal, the effects of thromboxane synthase inhibitors on mesenteric vascular responses to sympathetic nerve stimulation, norepinephrine, and angiotensin II were determined in vivo. In normotensive rats, chronic treatment with the thromboxane synthase inhibitor, UK38,485 (100 mg/kg X d X 7 d), attenuated vascular responses to nerve stimulation and angiotensin II, but not to norepinephrine. Indomethacin treatment (5 mg/kg X three doses) did not attenuate vascular responses, but did prevent chronic UK38,485 administration from attenuating vascular reactivity. A single dose of UK38,485 (100 mg/kg) did not modify vascular responses to nerve stimulation or angiotensin II, even though platelet thromboxane synthase was inhibited completely. In spontaneously hypertensive rats, chronic administration (100 mg/kg X d X 7 d) of either UK38,485, OKY1581, or U-63557A (three structurally distinct thromboxane synthase inhibitors) attenuated vascular responses to nerve stimulation and angiotensin II. Only U-63557A suppressed responses to norepinephrine. Chronic treatment with UK38,485 or U-63557A did not influence vascular reactivity in hypertensive rats treated with indomethacin. Also, chronic administration of lower doses of UK38,485 or U-63557A (30 mg/kg X d X 7 d) did not affect vascular responsiveness in hypertensive rats, despite complete blockade of platelet thromboxane synthase. These data indicate that chronic administration of high doses of thromboxane synthase inhibitors attenuates vascular responses to sympathetic nerve stimulation and angiotensin II, but not usually to norepinephrine. This action may be mediated by endoperoxide shunting within the blood vessel wall.