Effects of amiodarone on ouabain binding to microsomal Na+, K(+)-ATPase in guinea-pig heart preparations

Characteristics of the fetal/maternal interface with potential usefulness in the development of future immunological and pharmacological strategies

A study of the fundamental biology of the maternal-fetal interface reveals the complex interactions among multiple cell types and regulatory factors necessary to support a successful pregnancy. Cells of decidua and trophoblast lineages play central roles in creating the maternal-fetal interface and are sources of regulatory factors that can determine the quality and success of pregnancy. The regulatory factors considered here are major placental histocompatibility complex proteins, pregnancy-specific regulatory factors for uterine inflammatory cells, and hormone-controlled placental multidrug-resistant transport systems. Potential targets are discussed and presented as areas where researchers may identify novel pharmacological and immunological strategies that eventually will extend to the clinic to improve the quality and success of pregnancy.

Evidence for the binding of β-adrenoceptor blockers to microsomal Na+/K+-ATPase in guinea pig heart preparations

We reported in a previous study that β-adrenoceptor blockers inhibit the Mg2+-dependent ATP-hydrolytic function of Na+/K+-ATPase. To determine if this action is a result of binding of β-blockers to the receptor sites that bind the digitalis glycosides, we performed displacement binding assays of eight β-blockers with [3H]-ouabain (OUA) in guinea pig myocardial microsomal preparations. In the first series of experiments, 10-200 µM of the β-blockers were displaced with 250 nM OUA. In the second set of experiments, 10-500 nM of OUA was displaced using 200 µM of the β-blockers. The drugs showed concentration-dependent receptor occupancy at the different OUA levels. Propranolol (PPN), metoprolol (MTP), and sotalol (STL) showed the strongest binding; nadolol (NDL), indenolol (IDN), and atenolol (ATN) had intermediate binding; carazolol (CRZ) and celiprolol (CLP) had the weakest binding properties. The results suggest that β-blockers may compete for the same binding sites with ouabain in their inhibition of the Na+/K+-ATPase. These actions may contribute to the mechanism for some of their cardiac effects, especially their proarrhythmic and arrhythmogenic actions.Key words: β-adrenoceptor blockers, antiarrhythmic agents, arrhythmogenic effects, Na+/K+-ATPase, ouabain binding.

Na+-K+ pump inhibition caused by chronic amiodarone in guinea pig myocardium

Although it is known that amiodarone inhibits myocardial Na+-K+ pump activity, the potency and the time course of this inhibition are unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate these aspects with reference to digoxin, using guinea pigs treated with either intraperitoneal amiodarone (20mg/kg per week, up to 12 weeks, n = 26) or the same amount of vehicle as a control (n = 24). ECG recording and microelectrode experiments were conducted every 2 weeks. QT interval corrected by heart rate and action potential duration were prolonged as a function of the time of exposure to amiodarone. Hyperpolarization observed immediately after the overdrive (1.0Hz) termination or K+-replenishment following K+-depletion in the presence of 0.1mM Ba2+ was compared in the amiodarone-treated and untreated groups, as an index of the Na+-K+ pump activity. The resting membrane potential recovery from overdrive-induced depolarization was slower and the amplitude of K+-induced hyperpolarization was smaller in the amiodarone-treated group than in the untreated group. These changes were evident as the chronic amiodarone treatment progressed, although the changes in these parameters were greater in the case of acute application of 50 microM digoxin. In conclusion, this study indicates that treatment with amiodarone for longer than several weeks moderately inhibits the myocardial Na+-K+ pump.

Beneficial effects of amiodarone in heart failure: interaction with beta-adrenoceptors rather than G proteins

The effect of the antiarrhythmic drug amiodarone on the human myocardial beta-adrenoceptor-G protein-adenylyl cyclase signalling cascade was investigated. Amiodarone had no effect on myocardial G proteins and maximal adenylyl cyclase activity, but acted as a beta-adrenoceptor antagonist. This mechanism might be at least partially responsible for the beneficial effects of the drug in patients with arrhythmia and heart failure.