Effect of Rp diastereoisomer of adenosine 3',5' cyclic-monophosphothioate on the cAMP-dependent relaxation of smooth muscle

GLP-1 and related peptides cause concentration-dependent relaxation of rat aorta through a pathway involving KATP and cAMP

Increasing evidence from both clinical and experimental studies indicates that the insulin-releasing hormone, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) may exert additional protective/reparative effects on the cardiovascular system. The aim of this study was to examine vasorelaxant effects of GLP-1(7-36)amide, three structurally-related peptides and a non-peptide GLP-1 agonist in rat aorta. Interestingly, all GLP-1 compounds, including the established GLP-1 receptor antagonist, exendin (9-39) caused concentration-dependent relaxation. Mechanistic studies employing hyperpolarising concentrations of potassium or glybenclamide revealed that these relaxant effects are mediated via specific activation of ATP-sensitive potassium channels. Further experiments using a specific membrane-permeable cyclic AMP (cAMP) antagonist, and demonstration of increased cAMP production in response to GLP-1 illustrated the critical importance of this pathway. These data significantly extend previous observations suggesting that GLP-1 may modulate vascular function, and indicate that this effect may be mediated by the GLP-1 receptor. However, further studies are required in order to establish whether GLP-1 related agents may confer additional cardiovascular benefits to diabetic patients.

Endogenous nitric oxide attenuates beta-adrenoceptor-mediated relaxation in rat aorta

1. Divergent evidence suggests that the intracellular signalling pathways for beta-adrenoceptor-mediated vascular relaxation involves either cAMP/protein kinase (PK) A or endothelial nitric oxide (NO) release and subsequent activation of cGMP/PKG. The present study identifies the relative roles of NO and cAMP, as well as dependence on the endothelium for beta-adrenoceptor-mediated relaxation of rat isolated aortas. 2. Cumulative concentration-response curves to isoprenaline (0.01-3 micromol/L) in phenylephrine (0.1 micromol/L)-preconstricted endothelium-intact and -denuded aortas were constructed. Isoprenaline-mediated relaxation was partially reduced by endothelium removal and the presence of the NO synthase inhibitor N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (0.1 mmol/L), but not by the cAMP antagonist (Rp)-cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphorothioate (Rp-cAMPS; 0.5 mmol/L). 3. In contrast, in endothelium-denuded aortas, the isoprenaline-mediated relaxation was inhibited by Rp-cAMPS and this inhibition was lost in the presence of the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (1 nmol/L). This effect was not due to phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity because the non-selective PDE inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (1 micromol/L) failed to affect the isoprenaline vasorelaxant response. 4. The K(+) channel blocker tetraethylammonium (TEA; 1 mmol/L) attenuated isoprenaline-induced relaxation in endothelium-denuded aorta, but its effect was non-additive with Rp-cAMPS, suggesting that the K(+) channel component may involve cAMP. In endothelium-intact aortas, TEA but not Rp-cAMPS reduced isoprenaline relaxation, suggesting an additional non-cAMP component. 5. These findings suggest that beta-adrenoceptors induce vascular smooth muscle relaxation by acting through the NO-cGMP pathway and, when that is disrupted by endothelium removal or the presence of an NO synthase inhibitor, the cAMP pathway in smooth muscles is used. The lack of cAMP participation in endothelium-intact vessels may be because NO suppresses or overrides the cAMP effect.

Direct inhibitory effect of adrenomedullin, calcitonin gene-related peptide, calcitonin, and amylin on cholecystokinin-induced contraction of guinea-pig isolated caecal circular smooth muscle cells

We recently reported the direct inhibitory effect of adrenomedullin on caecal circular smooth muscle cells via cAMP system. This study was designed to determine whether the structurally related peptides to adrenomedullin (i.e.; calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), calcitonin, and amylin) can inhibit the cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8)-induced contractile response by exerting a direct action on guinea-pig caecal circular smooth muscle cells, and to compare the inhibitory potency of these peptides. In addition, to elucidate each intracellular mechanisms, the effects of an inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, inhibitors of particulate or soluble guanylate cyclase on the each peptide-induced relaxation were investigated. Adrenomedullin, CGRP, calcitonin, and amylin inhibited the contractile response produced by CCK-8 in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 values of 0.14 nM, 0.37 nM, 5.4 nM, and 160 nM, respectively. An inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase significantly inhibited the relaxation produced by all of these peptides. On the contrary, inhibitors of particulate or soluble guanylate cyclase did not have any significant effect on the relaxation produced by these peptides. In this study, we demonstrated the direct inhibitory effects of the structurally related peptides to adrenomedullin (i.e.; CGRP, calcitonin, and amylin) on the isolated caecal circular smooth muscle cells via cAMP system. The order of potency was as follows; adrenomedullin falling dots CGRP > calcitonin > amylin.

Mechanism of mifepristone-induced spasmolytic effect on isolated rat uterus

Mifepristone, a synthetic 19-norsteroid, relaxed the KCl-induced tonic contraction in isolated rat uterus in a concentration-dependent way and CaCl2 (0.1 to 10 mM) counteracted it. This effect was similar to other steroids although the mechanisms involved are unclear. Before adding the contracturant, tissue was incubated with actinomycin D (10 microM), cycloheximide (300 microM), TPCK (3 and 10 microM), Rp-cAMPS (30 microM), DDA (100 microM) and H-7 (1 microM). None of these modified the relaxing effect of mifepristone. Incubation with drugs that interfere with cGMP such as a nucleotide analogue DDG (100 microM), a soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor ODQ (1 microM) and an inhibitor of protein kinase G 8pCPTcGMPS (1 microM) significantly modified the effect of mifepristone, increasing its IC50.

Involvement of cAMP and beta-adrenoceptors in the relaxing effect elicited by flavonoids on rat uterine smooth muscle

1. The effect of the flavonoids genistein (3-100 microM), kaempferol (3-60 microM) and quercetin (1-100 microM) on KCl (60 mM)-induced tonic contraction in rat smooth muscle was assayed. In the same way, the modification of these effects in the presence of an inhibitor of protein kinase (PKA) (Rp-cAMPS), an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase (papaverine) and beta-adrenoreceptor blocking agents (propranolol and atenolol) was studied. 2. The flavonoids totally relaxed the KCl-induced tonic contraction (IC50: genistein 20.2 +/- 2.0 microM, n = 11; kaempferol 10.1 +/- 1.6 microM, n = 8; quercetin 13.2 +/- 1.2 microM, n = 8). 3. The incubation with Rp-cAMPS (10 and 100 microM) 30 min prior to KCl shifted the dose-response curve of the flavonoids to the right, increasing their IC50 up to 27.8 +/- 3.8 and 31.9 +/- 7.3 microM, respectively, for genistein; 24.7 +/- 0.2 and 19.6 +/- 4.9 microM, respectively, for kaempferol; 18.8 +/- 2.2 and 18.4 +/- 1.5 microM, respectively, for quercetin. 4. Papaverine (3-100 microM) also relaxed the contraction induced by KCl and this effect was significantly displaced to the right with Rp-cAMPS (10 microM) (IC50 12.1 +/- 2.2 vs. 16.5 +/- 3.1 microM). Papaverine (3 microM) added to the organ bath 15 min before the contractile agent increased the relaxing effect of the flavonoids and significantly decreased their IC50 (genistein 20.2 +/- 2.0 vs. 9.8 +/- 1.4 microM; kaempferol 10.1 +/- 1.6 vs. 6.6 +/- 0.7 microM; quercetin 13.2 +/- 1.2 vs. 7.8 +/- 1.4 microM). 5. The incubation with atenolol (10 microM) did not alter the relaxing effect of the flavonoids. In the same experimental conditions, propranolol (10 microM) did not modify the effect of genistein and kaempferol, but shifted the response curve of quercetin significantly to the right (13.2 +/- 1.2 vs. 17.7 +/- 3.4 microM). 6. The results suggest that genistein, kaempferol and quercetin produced the relaxation of uterine smooth muscle by increasing intracellular cAMP. Beta-adrenoceptors could also be involved in the effect of quercetin.

Role of genomic mechanisms on cAMP-dependent positive inotropism in isolated left atrium of rat

It is well known that beta-adrenoceptor stimulation induces positive inotropism by cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of cardiac calcium channels. Furthermore, hypertrophy of different tissues including the heart have been related to the stimulation of these adrenoceptors via mechanisms coupled to activation of transcription and protein synthesis. Early effects of isoproterenol mediated via this pathway has also been associated to the stimulation of beta-adrenoceptors. However, the effects on the inotropism through genomic mechanisms have not yet been described. Isoproterenol (3 nM to 3 microM) induced a concentration-dependent positive inotropism, in isolated left atrium of male Wistar rats electrically stimulated (0.5 Hz, 5 ms, 30-50% above the threshold voltage), which was antagonized by atenolol (1 microM) and inhibited by a protein kinase A inhibitor, (R)p-cAMPS (10 microM). The inhibitor of transcription, actinomycin D (4 microM), and the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide (35.5 microM), significantly decreased the positive inotropism induced by isoproterenol. Forskolin (0.1 to 3 microM), an activator of adenylyl cyclase, induced a concentration-dependent positive inotropism which was also inhibited by (R)p-cAMPS, actinomycin D and cycloheximide. In the left atrium of rat, isoproterenol induced a positive inotropism which seems, at least in part, dependent upon intact transcription and protein synthesis, as suggested by the fact that the response was inhibited by the incubation with actinomycin D and cycloheximide. In addition, this genomic effect seems to be mediated by a cAMP-dependent mechanism. As it was inhibited by a protein kinase A inhibitor ((R)p-cAMPS) and similarly to isoproterenol, the positive inotropism induced by forskolin, which increases cytosolic cAMP, was also inhibited by actinomycin D and cycloheximide.

Contribution of cAMP to the inhibitory effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in rat uterine smooth muscle

1. The effect of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs naproxen, mefenamic acid, phenylbutazone, piroxicam and tolmetin on the vanadate (0.3 mM)-induced tonic contraction, as well as the modifications of these effects by the G-protein inhibitor pertussis toxin, and the inhibitors of protein kinase A, Rp-cAMPS (Rp-Adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphothioate triethylamine salt) and protein kinase C, H-7 [1(5-isoquinolynilsulfonyl)-2-methyl-piperazine], have been assayed to study the possible nature of intracellular mediators contributing to the inhibitory effects of NSAIDs in rat uterine smooth muscle incubated in medium lacking calcium plus EDTA. The effect of phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate on vanadate contraction and its modification with H-7 has also been examined. 2. Naproxen (6-600 microM), mefenamic acid (6-300 microM), phenylbutazone (6-300 microM), piroxicam (6-600 microM) and tolmetin (6-600 microM) produced concentration-dependent relaxation of vanadate-induced tonic contraction. The potency order, in accordance with their respective IC50 values was: phenylbutazone > or = mefenamic acid > or = naproxen > tolmetin > or = piroxicam. 3. The relaxant effects of naproxen, phenylbutazone, piroxicam and tolmetin were significantly antagonized with pertussis toxin (50 ng ml-1), Rp-cAMPS (100 microM) and H-7 (1 microM). However, the effect of mefenamic acid was unmodified by the three drugs. This suggests that the effect of mefenamic acid and other NSAIDs occur by different mechanisms. 4. Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate relaxed the vanadate contraction but the maximal relaxation achieved (54.8 +/- 8.3%, n = 4) was lower than those induced with the NSAIDs. On the other hand, H-7 (1 microM) did not modify the relaxant effect of phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate. This suggests that H-7 behaves as a PKA, but not a PKC inhibitor, under the present experimental conditions. 5. The relaxation by naproxen, phenylbutazone, piroxicam and tolmetin is presumably produced by increasing cAMP because the effects of these are antagonized with Rp-cAMPS and H-7, and by pertussis-toxin-sensitive mechanisms.