Alpha-blockade and vasodilatation induced by nipradilol, arotinolol and labetalol in pithed rats

Medical benefits of using natural compounds and their derivatives having multiple pharmacological actions

The multiple pharmacological actions of a unique compound are a prerequisite for classifying drugs as highly efficacious, because the multiple pharmacological actions offer the possibility of treating various symptoms of chronic diseases as described below. 1) Sustained hyperglycemia induces macrovascular and microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Antihyperglycemic medication and the control of postprandial hyperglycemia are essentially important for normalizing plasma glucose level. Gymnemic acid IV isolated from Gymnema sylvestre (Asclepiadaceae) leaves has antisweet, antihyperglycemic, glucose uptake inhibitory, and gut glycosidase inhibitory effects. Most of these pharmacological effects may synergistically contribute to alleviating type 2 diabetes-related symptoms. 2) Diabetic skeletal and vascular smooth muscles are hypersensitive to chemical transmitters, cytokines and autacoids. The sensitivity of neuromuscular synapses is enhanced in diabetes, which seems to be closely associated with neuropathy as one of the diabetic complications. beta-Eudesmol found in Atractylodes lancea rhizome has a desensitizing channel blocking action to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, anti-angiogenic action in vascular endothelium, and neuronal differentiation actions. These multiple pharmacological actions are favorable for treating angiogenic diseases possibly including the complications of diabetes, namely, retinopathy and nephropathy, and cancer. 3) Nipradilol is clinically utilized as a topical antiglaucoma drug. The ocular hypotensive effects of this compound are brought about by its alpha1 and beta-adrenergic receptor blocking actions, and nitric oxide (NO) releasing action. NO directly activates cyclooxygenases. All these pharmacologic effects are beneficial for treating glaucoma. The selectivity and specificity of drug action are required for treating acute diseases, infections or for acting as useful reagents. The pleiotropic actions of natural compounds and their derivatives serve as important clues for developing new drugs for various chronic diseases.

Contribution of cyclic GMP generation to the relaxation by nipradilol in the rabbit aorta

1. Contribution of cyclic GMP generation to the relaxation by nipradilol of vascular smooth muscle was studied in the isolated rabbit aorta contracted by phenylephrine (10(-7) M) or prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha, 3 x 10(-6) M). 2. Nipradilol-induced relaxation in both contractions and increase in cyclic GMP content were inhibited by methylene blue (10(-5) M). 3. The relations between the increase in cyclic GMP and the relaxation produced by nipradilol and nitroglycerin were fitted to sigmoid curves. The increase in cyclic GMP at 50% relaxation by nipradilol was smaller than that by nitroglycerin (1.2-fold increase as against 3-fold increase). 4. These results suggest a smaller contribution of cyclic GMP generation through activation of soluble guanylate cyclase to nipradilol-induced relaxation in the rabbit aorta.

Partial agonist activity of celiprolol, a cardioselective beta-antagonist

The beta-antagonistic effects of celiprolol were assessed in isolated guinea-pig preparations. The pA2 values obtained were 7.84 +/- 0.07, 7.79 +/- 0.06 and 6.45 +/- 0.11 against the positive chronotropic and inotropic effects in the atria and relaxant effects in the trachea induced by isoproterenol, respectively, indicating that celiprolol is a cardioselective beta-antagonist. Celiprolol produced slight positive chronotropic and inotropic effects in atrial preparations and a uniquely strong relaxant effect in tracheal preparations. All these effects were attenuated by pretreatment with 10(-6) M atenolol or 10(-6) M propranolol. In pithed rats, celiprolol produced pressor responses at doses lower than 0.03 mg/kg and hypotensive responses at doses higher than 0.3 mg/kg. It produced sustained increases in heart rate in all doses applied. These effects were attenuated by pretreatment with 1 mg/kg of propranolol. The pressor response might be taken to be a reflection of an increase in cardiac function mediated by cardiac beta 1-receptor stimulation, while the hypotension may be ascribed mainly to stimulation of beta 2-adrenoceptors in the vascular system. It is concluded that celiprolol exerts a uniquely strong partial agonist activity at beta 2-adrenoceptors.

Cardiohemodynamic effects of nipradilol (K-351) in the dog: comparison with propranolol, nadolol and prazosin

The cardiohemodynamic effects of nipradilol (K-351) were studied in comparison with those of propranolol, nadolol and prazosin in anesthetized, open-chest dogs. All drugs were administered intravenously. Nipradilol produced dose-dependent decreases in systemic blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), venous return (VR) and cardiac output (COP), but virtually no change in right atrial pressure (RAP). Propranolol decreased HR, tended to decrease VR and COP and increased RAP, but produced no change in systemic BP. Nadolol also decreased HR, VR and COP and increased RAP, but did not change systemic BP. Prazosin decreased systemic BP, VR and COP and tended to decrease RAP, but scarcely affected HR. After propranolol or nadolol, nipradilol failed to reduce HR, but still produced definite decreases in systemic BP, VR and COP and a slight decrease in RAP. After prazosin, nipradilol still produced decreases in systemic BP, HR, VR and COP. These results suggest that nipradilol decreases VR and COP mainly by increasing venous capacitance through direct venodilator action and in part by increasing resistance to VR through beta-adrenoceptor blockade. This effect also appears to be responsible for its hypotensive effect.

Role of the alpha-adrenergic blocking effect in the acute hypotensive effect of beta-adrenergic blocking drugs with alpha-blocking activities in conscious SHR

Acute hypotensive effects and the mechanisms of three beta-adrenergic blocking drugs with alpha-blocking activity were studied in comparison with those of prazosin, propranolol and hydralazine in the conscious spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). Prazosin lowered the blood pressure dose-dependently and inhibited the pressor response to phenylephrine. Three beta-adrenergic blocking drugs with alpha-blocking activity, labetalol (30 mg/kg), arotinolol (100 mg/kg) and nipradilol (100 mg/kg) also lowered the blood pressure to the same extent as prazosin (0.3 mg/kg), but the inhibition of the pressor response to phenylephrine produced by them was disproportionately slight. Propranolol (100 mg/kg) did not lower the blood pressure. These results suggest that the acute hypotensive effects of three beta-adrenergic blocking drugs with alpha-blocking activity were attributable only partially to the alpha-adrenergic blocking effect; a mechanism or mechanisms other than the alpha-adrenergic blocking effect must be invoked to explain the acute hypotensive effect produced by lower doses of these drugs in the conscious SHR.