Assessment of the beta 2 adrenoceptor and Ca2+ channel-blocking activity of drugs with the rat portal vein

The Effects of Labetalol and Dilevalol on Isolated Cardiovascular Preparations of the Guinea-pig and Rat

Differing effects of labetalol and dilevalol on cardiovascular preparations have been reported. I have studied the effects of labetalol and dilevalol on the contractile responses of the rat and guinea-pig left atria and rat portal vein. On the guinea-pig left atria low concentrations of labetalol (≥ 10−8  m) and of dilevalol (≥ 10−7  m) inhibited to a small extent the responses to electrical cardiac stimulation, which is indicative of membrane stabilizing activity. Labetalol (≥ 3× 10−8  m) and dilevalol (≥ 10−8  m) caused surmountable antagonism of the isoprenaline responses of the atria and the pA2 values were 8·60 and 8·98 at the β1-adrenoceptors of the rat left atria and 7·90 and 8·31, respectively, on the guinea-pig left atria which has functional β1 and β2-adrenoceptors. Labetalol and dilevalol (both at ≥ 10−7  m) attenuated the spontaneous contractile activity of the rat portal vein and the attenuation to labetalol at 10−6  m was abolished by ICI 118,551 which illustrates that the labetalol-induced attenuation is β2-adrenoceptor mediated. The isoprenaline attenuation responses of the portal vein were inhibited by labetalol and dilevalol (both at ≥ 10−7  m) and the pA2 value for the labetalol at β2-adrenoceptors was 7·59. It is concluded that labetalol and dilevalol are β1-adrenoceptor selective antagonists.

Effects of (±)-, (+)- and (—)-Celiprolol on the Rat Left Atria and Portal Vein

Differing effects of (±)-celiprolol at β-adrenoceptors have been reported. The effects of (±)-, (+)- and (—)-celiprolol on the contractile responses of the rat left atria and portal vein have therefore been studied. (±)-Celiprolol did not augment the responses of the atria to electrical stimulation and is therefore not an agonist at β1-adrenoceptors. Prolonged treatment with (±)-celiprolol attenuated the contractile activity of the vein and this effect was blocked by ICI 118,551 and is therefore mediated by agonism at β2-adrenoceptors. The pA2 values for (±)-, (+)- and (–)-celiprolol at the β1-adrenoceptors of the atria were 8·0, 6·0 and 8·6, respectively. On the portal vein, (±)- and (–)-celiprolol produced non-parallel rightward shifts of log isoprenaline attenuation curves with a reduction in isoprenaline maximum responses. This effect of (±)-celiprolol on the vein was not due to slowly reversible antagonism, as the inhibitory effect of (±)-celiprolol was readily reversible.

Rhythmic contractility in the hepatic portal "corkscrew" vein of the rat snake

Terrestrial, but not aquatic, species of snakes have hepatic portal veins with a corkscrew morphology immediately posterior of the liver. Relatively large volumes of venous blood are associated with this region, and the corkscrew vein has been proposed to function as a bidirectional valve that impedes gravitational shifts of intravascular volume. To better understand the functional significance of the corkscrew anatomy, we investigated the histology and contractile mechanisms in isolated corkscrew segments of the hepatic portal vein of a yellow rat snake (Pantherophis obsoletus). Morphologically, the corkscrew portal vein is here shown to have two distinct layers of smooth muscle--an inner circular layer, and an outer longitudinal layer, separated by a layer of collagen--whereas only a single circular layer of smooth muscle is present in the adjacent posterior caval vein. Low frequency (approximately 0.3 cycles*min(-1)) spontaneous and catecholamine-induced rhythms were observed in 11% and 89% of portal vein segments, respectively, but neither spontaneous nor agonist-induced cycling was observed in adjacent posterior (non-corkscrew) caval veins. Catecholamines, angiotensin II, or stretch increased the amplitude and/or frequency of contractile cycles. Ouabain, verapamil or indomethacin, but not tetrodotoxin, alpha-, or ss-adrenergic receptor antagonists, inhibited cyclical contractions indicating a dependence of these cycles on Na+/K+ ATPase, extracellular Ca2+ and prostanoid(s). These data suggest that the rhythmic contractility of the corkscrew segment of the ophidian portal vein may act in conjunction with its morphological features to improve venous return and to prevent retrograde shifts of blood that might otherwise pool in posterior veins.

beta-Adrenergic receptor stimulation of L-type Ca2+ channels in rabbit portal vein myocytes involves both alphas and betagamma G protein subunits

1. Previous studies have shown that purified G protein alphas and betagamma subunits stimulate vascular L-type Ca2+ channels through protein kinase A and C (PKA and PKC), respectively. The present study tested whether activation of endogenous G proteins via beta-adrenergic receptor binding also stimulates vascular Ca2+ channels through both Galphas and Gbetagamma and the subsequent activation of PKA and PKC. 2. Peak Ba2+ current (IBa) in freshly isolated rabbit portal vein smooth muscle cells was significantly increased by bath application of 0.5 microM isoproterenol (isoprenaline; ISO) when measured using the whole-cell patch clamp method (53 +/- 3 % increase, n = 15). Stimulation of IBa by ISO was partially reversed by a PKA inhibitor, KT 5720, or a PKC inhibitor, calphostin C, and completely blocked when cells were pretreated with both KT 5720 and calphostin C. 3. Dialysis of cells with polyclonal antibody to Galphas significantly reduced but did not completely eliminate ISO-induced stimulation of IBa. The remaining stimulation was abolished by calphostin C. Dialysis of cells with a polyclonal antibody to Gbeta also significantly reduced ISO-induced stimulation and the remaining stimulation was abolished by KT 5720. Dialysis of cells with both antibodies completely prevented the stimulation of IBa by ISO. 4. ISO-induced stimulation of IBa was reversed by ICI-118,551, a specific beta2-adrenoceptor antagonist, but not by CGP 20712A, a specific beta1-adrenoceptor antagonist. In addition, the beta2-adrenoceptor agonist zinterol significantly increased peak IBa while the beta1-adrenoceptor agonist dobutamine and beta3-adrenoceptor agonist BRL 37344A had little effect on peak IBa. 5. These data suggest that beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation of vascular L-type Ca2+ channels involves both alphas and betagamma G-protein subunits, which exert their effects through PKA and PKC, respectively.

Involvement of both G protein alphas and beta gamma subunits in beta-adrenergic stimulation of vascular L-type Ca(2+) channels

1. Previous data have shown that activation of beta(3)-adrenoceptors stimulates vascular L-type Ca(2+) channels through a G alphas-induced stimulation of the cyclic AMP/PKA pathway. The present study investigated whether beta-adrenergic stimulation also uses the G beta gamma/PI3K/PKC pathway to modulate L-type Ca(2+) channels in rat portal vein myocytes. 2. Peak Ba(2+) current (I(Ba)) measured using the whole-cell patch clamp method was maximally increased by application of 10 microm isoprenaline after blockade of beta(3)-adrenoceptors by 1 microM SR59230A. Under these conditions, the isoprenaline-induced stimulation of I(Ba) was reversed by ICI-118551 (a specific beta(2)-adrenoceptor antagonist) but not by atenolol (a specific beta(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist). The beta(2)-adrenoceptor agonist salbutamol increased I(Ba), an effect which was reversed by ICI-118551 whereas the beta(1)-adrenoceptor agonist dobutamine had no effect on I(Ba). 3. Application of PKA inhibitors (H-89 and Rp 8-Br-cyclic AMPs) or a PKC inhibitor (calphostin C) alone did not affect the beta(2)-adrenergic stimulation of I(Ba) whereas simultaneous application of both PKA and PKC inhibitors completely blocked this stimulation. 4. The beta(2)-adrenergic stimulation of L-type Ca(2+) channels was blocked by a pre-treatment with cholera toxin and by intracellular application of an anti-G alphas antibody (directed against the carboxyl terminus of G alphas). In the presence of H-89, intracellular infusion of an anti-Gss(com) antibody or a beta ARK(1) peptide as well as a pre-treatment with wortmannin (a PI3K inhibitor) blocked the beta(2)-adrenergic stimulation of I(Ba). 5. These results suggest that the beta(2)-adrenergic stimulation of vascular L-type Ca(2+) channels involves both G alphas and G beta gamma subunits which exert their stimulatory effects through PKA and PI3K/PKC pathways, respectively.

Veratridine augments and BDF 9148 attenuates the spontaneous contractile force of the rat portal vein

Veratridine and BDF 9148 both increase the force of myocardial contraction but their effects on the contractility of vascular smooth muscle are largely unknown. We have examined the effects of the drugs on the contractile force of the rat portal vein. The force responses of the rat portal vein were not altered by tetrodotoxin (< or = 30 microM) but were augmented by Bay K 8644 (10 nM-10 microM), and attenuated by nifedipine (10 nM-10 micro M). Veratridine slightly reduced the force of spontaneous contractions at concentrations of 0.1-1 microM, then augmented the force at concentrations up to 100 microM. The reduction was prevented by 30 nM tetrodotoxin; a higher concentration of 3 microM prevented the effect of veratridine. Pretreatment with nifedipine at 30 nM reduced the maximum augmentation observed with veratridine. BDF 9148 (0.3-300 microM) attenuated the force and this attenuation was increased in the presence of tetrodotoxin at 3 microM but reversed to an augmentation in the presence of Bay K 8644 at 10 microM. The augmentation produced by BDF 9148 in the presence of Bay K 8644 was reduced by tetrodotoxin at 30 nM. These results suggest that veratridine predominantly opens sodium channels which in turn open voltage-dependent calcium channels to augment the force responses of the rat portal vein, but attenuate force in the presence of sodium-channel blockade with tetrodotoxin. BDF 9148 predominantly closes calcium channels to attenuate the force of the rat portal vein but in the presence of maximum calcium-channel opening with Bay K 8644 augments force probably by opening sodium channels.

The effects of (+/-)-, (+)-, and (-)-atenolol, sotalol, and amosulalol on the rat left atria and portal vein

The effects of (+/-)-, (+)-, and (-)-atenolol, sotalol, and amosulalol alone on the rat left atria and portal vein and on the respective beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptor-mediated responses to isoprenaline have been determined. (+/-)-Atenolol at 10(-6) M had no effect whereas high concentrations of (+/-)- and (-)-sotalol, 10(-5)-10(-4) M, and (+/-)-, and (-)-amosulalol depressed the response of the rat left atria to cardiac stimulation which indicates membrane stabilizing activity. None of the drugs tested had any effect alone on the rat portal vein. The order of potency as antagonists was (+/-)-amosulalol > (+/-)-atenolol > (+/-)-sotalol at beta 1-adrenoceptors and (+/-)-amosulalol > (+/-)-sotalol > (+/-)-atenolol at beta 2-adrenoceptors. (+/-)-Atenolol and (+/-)-amosulalol are beta 1-selective whereas (+/-)-sotalol is beta 2-selective. For each of the racemic beta-blockers, the beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptor blocking activity was predominantly due to the (-)-enantiomer.

Effects of (+/-)- (+)- and (-)-metoprolol, (+/-)- (+)- and (-)-pindolol, (+/-)-mepindolol and (+/-)-bopindolol on the rat left atria and portal vein

1. The effects of (+/-)- (+)- and (-)-metoprolol, (+/-)- (+)- and (-)-pindolol, (+/-)-mepindolol and (+/-)-bopindolol on the beta 1-adrenoceptor mediated responses of the rat left atria and the beta 2-adrenoceptor mediated responses of the rat portal vein to isoprenaline have been determined. 2. Racemic and (-)-metoprolol were selective beta 1-adrenoceptor antagonists. (+)-Metoprolol was devoid of beta-adrenoceptor antagonistic activity. 3. Racemic and (-)-pindolol were potent and (+)-pindolol was a modest beta-adrenoceptor antagonist. 4. (+/-)-Mepindolol and (+/-)-bopindolol were apparently competitive antagonists of the isoprenaline beta 1-adrenoceptor mediated responses of the rat left atria but non-competitive antagonists of the isoprenaline beta 2-adrenoceptor mediated responses of the rat portal vein. 5. It is suggested that (+/-)-mepindolol and (+/-)-bopindolol are slowly dissociating beta-adrenoceptor antagonists and the non-competitive antagonism can only be detected on tissues with modest receptor reserves for maximum responses to isoprenaline.