Use-dependent inhibition of hHCN4 by ivabradine and relationship with reduction in pacemaker activity

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Ivabradine, a specific and use-dependent I(f) inhibitor, exerts anti-ischaemic activity purely by reducing heart rate. The aim of this work was to characterize its effect on the predominant HCN channel isoform expressed in human sino-atrial nodes (hSAN), to determine its kinetics in HCN channels from multicellular preparations and rate-dependency of its action.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

RT-PCR analysis of the four HCN channel isoforms was carried out on RNAs from hSAN. Patch-clamp and intracellular recordings were obtained from CHO cells stably expressing hHCN4 and isolated SAN, respectively. Beating rate of rat isolated atria was followed using a transducer.

KEY RESULTS

hHCN4 mRNAs were predominant in hSAN. Ivabradine induced a time-dependent inhibition of hHCN4 with an IC(50) of 0.5 microM. In rabbit SAN, ivabradine progressively reduced the frequency of action potentials: by 10% after 3 h at 0.1 microM, by 14% after 2 h at 0.3 microM and by 17% after 1.5 h at 1 microM. After 3h, ivabradine reduced the beating rate of rat right atria with an IC(30) of 0.2 microM. The onset of action of ivabradine was use-dependent rather than time-dependent with slower effects than caesium, an extracellular I (f) blocker. Ivabradine 3 microM decreased the frequency of action potentials in SAN from guinea-pig, rabbit and pig by 33%, 21% and 15% at 40 min, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The use-dependent inhibition of hHCN4 current by ivabradine probably contributes to its slow developing effect in isolated SAN and right atria and to its increased effectiveness in species with rapid SAN activity.

Role of gap junctions and EETs in endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization of porcine coronary artery

1. The effects of endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF: elicited using substance P or bradykinin) were compared with those of 11,12-EET in pig coronary artery. Smooth muscle cells were usually impaled with microelectrodes through the adventitial surface. 2. Substance P (100 nM) and 11,12-EET (11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid; 3 microM) hyperpolarized endothelial cells in intact arteries. These actions were unaffected by 100 nM iberiotoxin but were abolished by charybdotoxin plus apamin (each 100 nM). 3. Substance P (100 nM) and bradykinin (30 nM) hyperpolarized intact artery smooth muscle; Substance P had no effect after endothelium removal. 11,12-EET hyperpolarized de-endothelialized vessels by 12.6+/-0.3 mV, an effect abolished by 100 nM iberiotoxin. 4. 11,12-EET hyperpolarized intact arteries by 18.6+/-0.8 mV, an action reduced by iberiotoxin, which was ineffective against substance P. Hyperpolarizations to 11, 12-EET and substance P were partially inhibited by 100 nM charybdotoxin and abolished by further addition of 100 nM apamin. 5. 30 microM barium plus 500 nM ouabain depolarized intact artery smooth muscle but responses to substance P and bradykinin were unchanged. 500 microM gap 27 markedly reduced hyperpolarizations to substance P and bradykinin which were abolished in the additional presence of barium plus ouabain. 6. Substance P-induced hyperpolarizations of smooth muscle cells immediately below the internal elastic lamina were unaffected by gap 27, even in the presence of barium plus ouabain. 7. In pig coronary artery, 11,12-EET is not EDHF. Smooth muscle hyperpolarizations attributed to 'EDHF' are initiated by endothelial cell hyperpolarization involving charybdotoxin- (but not iberiotoxin) and apamin-sensitive K(+) channels. This may spread electrotonically via myoendothelial gap junctions but the involvement of an unknown endothelial factor cannot be excluded.

Role of gap junctions in the responses to EDHF in rat and guinea-pig small arteries

1. In guinea-pig internal carotid arteries with an intact endothelium, acetylcholine (10 microM) and levcromakalim (10 microM) each hyperpolarized the smooth muscle whereas a 5 mM elevation of extracellular K(+) was without effect. 2. Incubation of the carotid artery with the gap junction inhibitors carbenoxolone (100 microM) or gap 27 (500 microM) essentially abolished the hyperpolarization to acetylcholine but it was without effect on that to levcromakalim. Carbenoxolone had no effect on the acetylcholine-induced endothelial cell hyperpolarization but inhibited the smooth muscle hyperpolarization induced by the endothelial cell K(+) channel opener, 1-ethyl-2-benzimidazolinone (600 microM). 3. In rat hepatic and mesenteric arteries with endothelium, carbenoxolone (100 or 500 microM) depolarized the smooth muscle but did not modify hyperpolarizations induced by KCl or levcromakalim. In the mesenteric (but not the hepatic) artery, the acetylcholine-induced hyperpolarization was inhibited by carbenoxolone. 4. Phenylephrine (1 microM) depolarized the smooth muscle cells of intact hepatic and mesenteric arteries, an effect enhanced by carbenoxolone. Gap 27 did not have a depolarizing action. In the presence of phenylephrine, acetylcholine-induced hyperpolarization of both hepatic and mesenteric artery myocytes was partially inhibited by each of the gap junction inhibitors. 5. Collectively, the data suggest that gap junctions play some role in the EDHF (endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor) response in rat hepatic and mesenteric arteries. However, in the guinea-pig internal carotid artery, electrotonic propagation of endothelial cell hyperpolarizations via gap junctions may be the sole mechanism underlying the response previously attributed to EDHF.

Alteration of endothelium-dependent hyperpolarizations in porcine coronary arteries with regenerated endothelium

The present study was designed to test the ability of regenerated endothelium to evoke endothelium-dependent hyperpolarizations. Hyperpolarizations induced by serotonin and bradykinin were compared in isolated porcine coronary arteries with native or regenerated endothelium, 4 weeks after balloon endothelial denudation. The experiments were performed in the presence of inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase (Nomega-nitro-L-arginine) and cyclooxygenase (indomethacin). The transmembrane potential was measured using conventional glass microelectrodes. Smooth muscle cells from coronary arteries with regenerated endothelium were depolarized in comparison with control coronary arteries from the same hearts. Spontaneous membrane potential oscillations of small amplitude or spikes were observed in some of these arteries but never in arteries with native endothelium. In coronary arteries from control pigs, both serotonin and bradykinin induced concentration-dependent hyperpolarizations. In the presence of ketanserin, 10 micromol/L serotonin induced a transient hyperpolarization in control coronary arteries. Four weeks after balloon denudation, the response to serotonin was normal in arteries with native endothelium, but the hyperpolarization was significantly lower in coronary arteries with regenerated endothelium. In control arteries, the endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization obtained with bradykinin (30 nmol/L) was reproducible. Four weeks after balloon denudation, comparable hyperpolarizations were obtained in coronary arteries with native endothelium. By contrast, in arteries with regenerated endothelium, the hyperpolarization to bradykinin became voltage-dependent. In the most depolarized cells, the hyperpolarization to bradykinin was augmented. The changes in resting membrane potential and the alteration in endothelium-dependent hyperpolarizations observed in the coronary arteries with regenerated endothelium may contribute to the reduced response to serotonin and the unchanged relaxation to bradykinin described previously.

Cannabinoid CB1 receptor and endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization in guinea-pig carotid, rat mesenteric and porcine coronary arteries

1. The purpose of these experiments was to determine whether or not the endothelium-dependent hyperpolarizations of the vascular smooth muscle cells (observed in the presence of inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase and cyclo-oxygenase) can be attributed to the production of an endogenous cannabinoid. 2. Membrane potential was recorded in the guinea-pig carotid, rat mesenteric and porcine coronary arteries by intracellular microelectrodes. 3. In the rat mesenteric artery, the cannabinoid receptor antagonist, SR 141716 (1 microM), did not modify either the resting membrane potential of smooth muscle cells or the endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization induced by acetylcholine (1 microM) (17.3 +/- 1.8 mV, n = 4 and 17.8 +/- 2.6 mV, n = 4, in control and presence of SR 141716, respectively). Anandamide (30 microM) induced a hyperpolarization of the smooth muscle cells (12.6 +/- 1.4 mV, n = 13 and 2.0 +/- 3.0 mV, n = 6 in vessels with and without endothelium, respectively) which could not be repeated in the same tissue, whereas acetylcholine was still able to hyperpolarize the preparation. The hyperpolarization induced by anandamide was not significantly influenced by SR 141716 (1 microM). HU-210 (30 microM), a synthetic CB1 receptor agonist, and palmitoylethanolamide (30 microM), a CB2 receptor agonist, did not influence the membrane potential of the vascular smooth muscle cells. 4. In the rat mesenteric artery, the endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization induced by acetylcholine (1 microM) (19.0 +/- 1.7 mV, n = 6) was not altered by glibenclamide (1 microM; 17.7 +/- 2.3 mV, n = 3). However, the combination of charybdotoxin (0.1 microM) plus apamin (0.5 microM) abolished the acetylcholine-induced hyperpolarization and under these conditions, acetylcholine evoked a depolarization (7.7 +/- 2.7 mV, n = 3). The hyperpolarization induced by anandamide (30 microM) (12.6 +/- 1.4 mV, n = 13) was significantly inhibited by glibenclamide (4.0 +/- 0.4 mV, n = 4) but not significantly affected by the combination of charybdotoxin plus apamin (17.3 +/- 2.3 mV, n = 4). 5. In the guinea-pig carotid artery, acetylcholine (1 microM) evoked endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization (18.8 +/- 0.7 mV, n = 15). SR 141716 (10 nM to 10 microM), caused a direct, concentration-dependent hyperpolarization (up to 10 mV at 10 microM) and a significant inhibition of the acetylcholine-induced hyperpolarization. Anandamide (0.1 to 3 microM) did not influence the membrane potential. At a concentration of 30 microM, the cannabinoid agonist induced a non-reproducible hyperpolarization (5.6 +/- 1.3 mV, n = 10) with a slow onset. SR 141716 (1 microM) did not affect the hyperpolarization induced by 30 microM anandamide (5.3 +/- 1.5 mV, n = 3). 6. In the porcine coronary artery, anandamide up to 30 microM did not hyperpolarize or relax the smooth muscle cells. The endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization and relaxation induced by bradykinin were not influenced by SR 141716 (1 microM). 7. These results indicate that the endothelium-dependent hyperpolarizations, observed in the guinea-pig carotid, rat mesenteric and porcine coronary arteries, are not related to the activation of cannabinoid CB1 receptors.

Stereospecific in vitro and in vivo effects of the new sinus node inhibitor (+)-S 16257

The effects of the two isomers, (+)-S 16257 and (-)-S 16260, of a new bradycardic agent, (+/-)-S 15544 (7,8-dimethoxy 3-[3-[[(4.5-dimethoxybenzocyclobutan-1-yl)methyl] methylamino]propyl]1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-2H-3-benzazepin-2-one), were compared in vitro and in vivo on cardiac spontaneous rate and repolarization time. In the isolated rabbit sino-atrial node, the three compounds (3 microM) were equi-effective to reduce the action potential firing rate. In anesthetized pigs, both isomers (0.03, 0.1, 0.3 and 1 mg kg(-1) i.v.) were equipotent to reduce heart rate. For all compounds, the negative chronotropic effect resulted from a reduction in the slope of diastolic depolarization of pacemaker cells. In sino-atrial node cells, (-)-S 16260 (3 microM) increased action potential duration while (+)-S 16257 had a smaller effect. In driven guinea-pig papillary muscles exposed to increasing concentrations of compounds (0.1 to 10 microM) a small prolongation of action potential duration was observed. This prolongation was more marked in rabbit Purkinje fibers stimulated at a low rate. In all cardiac preparations the highest prolongation was observed with (-)-S 16260. In vivo, (-)-S 16260 prolonged QTc at the two highest doses tested while (+)-S 16257 had no effect. In conclusion, resolution of (+/-)-S 15544 into its two enantiomers yielded compounds with the same bradycardic effects. Of the isomers, (+)-S 16257 has an increased specificity with minimal direct effect on action potential repolarization.

Monohydroperoxidized fatty acids but not 4-hydroxynonenal induced acute cardiac cell damage

Unsaturated fatty acids constitutive of cardiac membranal lipid matrix are one of the primary targets for reactive oxygen species generated during ischemia-reperfusion cycle. Lipid peroxidation is a cascade of intricate reactions involving the successive formations of fatty acids hydroperoxides and aldehydic compounds such as alkenals derived from the oxidative fragmentation of these hydroperoxides. The potential deleterious effects of different classes of lipid peroxidation products on cardiac cells were compared using three in vitro approaches: (i) cardiomyocyte integrity, (ii) electromechanical activity of papillary muscle, and (iii) atrial contractility. The following products of lipid peroxidation were tested: (i) photoperoxidized arachidonic acid pooling hydroperoxidized derivatives and aldehydic compounds, (ii) fatty acids hydroperoxides, and (iii) 4-hydroxynonenal, a characteristic alkenal derived from the oxidative fragmentation of hydroperoxidized n-6 fatty acids. Only fatty acids hydroperoxides induced drastic loss of cellular integrity and severe disturbances in electromechanical activity of cardiomyocytes. 4-hydroxynonenal induced only a slight leak of lactate dehydrogenase at high concentrations and did not modify the electromechanical behavior of cardiac preparations. Under our conditions, monohydroperoxidized fatty acids but not 4-hydroxynonenal induced acute cardiac cell damages. In conclusion, lipid hydroperoxides can be considered both as markers of oxidative injury and relay sources of oxidative stress.

Nature of the cardiomyocyte injury induced by lipid hydroperoxides

OBJECTIVE

As a result of oxidative stress to membrane lipid matrix, the peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids induced the transient formation of lipid hydroperoxides (ROOH). The aim of this study was to evaluate the damaging effects of ROOH on the cardiac cell and the link between the alterations observed and intracellular calcium overload.

METHODS

Necrosis of cultured rat cardiac cells was determined by measuring the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). In guinea-pig papillary muscles, action potential (AP) and isometric tension were recorded with standard microelectrodes and a transducer, respectively. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging properties of tested compounds were determined using a cell-free model of lipid photoperoxidation.

RESULTS

15(S)-HpETE (15(S)-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid), an arachidonic acid hydroperoxide, induced a concentration-dependent loss of cardiomyocytes membrane integrity. The release of LDH induced by 15(s)-HpETE (30 microM) was prevented by a ROS scavenger, BW755C (10 microM), but not by a sarcolemmal calcium channel blocker, Amlodipine (10 microM), or a calcium overload protective agent, R56865 (10 microM). Cardiomyocytes necrosis induced by calcium paradox was prevented by Amlodipine (10 microM) and R56865 (10 microM), but not by BW755C (10 microM). Superfusion of papillary muscles with 15(S)-HpETE (20 microM) induced a membrane depolarization and a marked reduction in the AP amplitude and duration. Concomitantly, a transient positive inotropic effect and a progressive rise in diastolic tension were observed. These alterations were maximal after 15 min and associated with delayed after-depolarizations (DADs) and after-contractions. Every alteration was inhibited by BW755C (10 microM) and R56865 (30 microM), but not by Amlodipine (1 microM). Ryanodine (1 microM), a blocker of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium channel, only prevented the appearance of DADs and after-contractions. Only BW755C exhibited ROS scavenging properties.

CONCLUSIONS

ROOH induced enzyme leakage and electromechanical alterations in cardiac cells. These effects of ROOH implicated oxidative mechanisms and resulted in an intracellular calcium overload.

Electrophysiological effects of S 16257, a novel sino-atrial node modulator, on rabbit and guinea-pig cardiac preparations: comparison with UL-FS 49

1. S 16257 is a new bradycardic agent. Its electropharmacological profile has been compared to that of the known bradycardic compound UL-FS 49 (Zatebradine). Intracellular recordings of action potentials (APs) were performed with conventional glass microelectrodes. 2. In the rabbit isolated sino-atrial node (SAN) tissue, S 16257 and UL-FS 49 (1 microM, 3 microM and 10 microM) were equipotent in slowing spontaneous APs firing predominantly by decreasing the rate of diastolic depolarization (at 3 microM, -23.8 +/- 3.9% and -27.9 +/- 2.6%, respectively). For the two compounds a maximal effect was obtained at 3 microM. In these preparations, action potential duration at 50% of total repolarization (APD50) was more affected by UL-FS 49 than S 16257 at any concentration tested (at 3 microM, +8.9 +/- 2.9% and +29.1 +/- 3.7% for S 16257 and UL-FS 49, respectively; P < or = 0.01). 3. To estimate the direct effects on AP duration, driven cardiac preparations were exposed to these agents. In guinea-pig papillary muscles, paced at a frequency of 1 Hz, increasing concentrations of S 16257 or UL-FS 49 (0.1 to 10 microM, 30 min exposure for each concentration) slightly prolonged AP repolarization. This prolongation was more marked for UL-FS 49 (at 1 microM, +6.1 +/- 0.6% and +11.2 +/- 1.3% elevation of APD50, for S 16257 and UL-FS 49, respectively). 4. Application of UL-FS 49 (3 microM) to rabbit Purkinje fibres, triggered at a frequency of 0.25 Hz, induced a marked prolongation of APD50 and APD90 (+149.4 +/- 51.2% and +86.0 +/- 15.4%, respectively). S 16257 (3 MicroM) induced only a weak prolongation of AP (+ 14.1 +/- 5.0% and + 14.8 +/- 3.3% for APD50 and APD90, respectively) significantly smaller than in the case of UL-FS 49.5. These results show that S 16257 slows the rate of spontaneous AP firing in isolated SAN mainly by a reduction of the diastolic depolarization of the cells, which suggests an inhibition of the pace-maker current (If). S 16257 and UL-FS 49 are equipotent in their bradycardic effect but S 16257 is more specific as it induces less increase in myocardial repolarization time.

Protective effect of S12340 on cardiac cells exposed to oxidative stress

Oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species is one aspect of the deleterious mechanisms involved in myocardial post-ischemic reperfusion injury. The antioxidant properties of the new molecule S12340 (8-[3-(3,5-diterbutyl-4-hydroxyphenyl-thio)propyl]-1-oxa-2- oxo-3,8-diazaspiro[4.5]decane) were evaluated using three successive in vitro approaches mimicking the cardiac cell damages induced by reactive oxygen species released into the reperfused myocardium. (i) The effects of S12340 on lipid peroxidation were evaluated using an original cell-free model of non-enzymatic peroxidation of 1.32 mM arachidonic acid induced by reactive oxygen species generated photochemically. S12340 (13.2 microM) inhibited by 29% the rate of oxidative fragmentation of monohydroperoxidized arachidonic acid into aldehydic products. (ii) S12340 (10 microM) inhibited by 96% and 58% the oxidative necrosis of cultured rat cardiomyocytes induced by xanthine oxidase (20 mU/ml) and monohydroperoxidized arachidonic acid (30 microM), respectively. (iii) Superfusion of guinea-pig papillary muscle with monohydroperoxidized arachidonic acid (20 microM) resulted in marked alterations of their electrophysiological and mechanical activities. These modifications, maximal 15-17 min after the addition of lipid hydroperoxide, were completely abolished by S12340 (30 microM).

Altered electrical response to caffeine exposure in hypertrophied rat myocardium

We investigated the electrophysiological effects of cardiac hypertrophy induced by different experimental models. Comparison of the action potentials of hypertrophied and control rat hearts reveals a pronounced prolongation of the action potential for all types of hypertrophy. This prolongation affects the entire repolarization phase of the action potential 8 days after severe aortic constriction, after 8 days of isoproterenol treatment (5 mg/kg per day), and 3 months after an aortocaval fistula. The electrical changes associated with myocardial hypertrophy induced by pressure overload (aortic constriction) were compared with those resulting from volume overload (aortocaval fistula). Our results show that action potential alterations depend on the nature, duration, and severity of the work load. Thus, pressure overload is more potent to induce these modifications. In the hearts subjected to pressure overload, action potential alterations appear more rapidly and are more marked for the same degree of hypertrophy than those of the volume-hypertrophied myocardium. Furthermore, such data also demonstrate that the early alteration of the action potential during the development of compensatory hypertrophy is a prolongation of the later phase of repolarization (phase 3), without prolongation of the other repolarization phases (1 and 2). This change appears 3 days after aortic constriction, 1 month after coronary artery ligation (in the healthy part of the left ventricle), and 1 month after an aortocaval fistula.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hypertrophy induced alteration of action potential and effects of the inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme by perindopril in infarcted rat hearts

Not much is known about alterations in electrical activity in the healthy part of a heart made hypertrophic as a result of local ischaemia, yet such an investigation might allow us to predict the stages leading to cardiac failure and so aid its prevention. We therefore studied the electrophysiological changes which occurred in rats in which ligation of the left coronary artery had produced hypertrophy of the non-infarcted myocardium. One month after the intervention the overall degree of hypertrophy of the ventricles reached 15.3%. This was accompanied in the healthy part of the left ventricle (septum) by altered electrical activity consisting of a lengthening of the action potentials at 25, 50, 75 and 90% of repolarisation. Myocardial hypertrophy was absent after chronic treatment of the animals with perindopril, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, given orally at 2 mg.kg-1 body weight, and the electrophysiological alterations induced by the infarct were partially eliminated: phase 2 of the myocardial action potential was shortened and phase 3 completely restored. We postulate that angiotensin may have a direct effect on the cardiac cell.