0000000000413644

AUTHOR

Maria Catret

Investigations of the dual contractile/relaxant properties showed by antioquine in rat aorta.

1. In the present study we assessed the activity of antioquine, a bisbenzyltetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Pseudoxandra sclerocarpa, by examining its effects on the contractile activity of rat isolated aorta, specific binding of [3H]-(+)-cis-diltiazem, [3H]-nitrendipine and [3H]-prazosin to cerebral cortical membranes and the different molecular forms of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDE) isolated from bovine aorta. 2. Contractions in rat aorta induced by high concentrations of KCl (80 mM) and noradrenaline (1 microM) were inhibited by antioquine in a concentration-dependent manner (0.1 microM- 300 microM). The alkaloid appeared more potent against KCl-induced contract…

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Mechanism of vascular relaxation by thaligrisine

Abstract In the present study we examine the mechanism by which thaligrisine, a bisbenzyltetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid, inhibits the contractile response of vascular smooth muscle. The work includes functional studies on rat isolated aorta and tail artery precontracted with noradrenaline or KCl. In other experiments rat aorta was precontracted by caffeine in the presence or absence of extracellular Ca 2 +. In order to assess whether thaligrisine interacts directly with calcium channel binding sites or with α-adrenoceptors we examined the effect of the alkaloid on [ 3 H]-(+)- cis diltiazem, [ 3 H]-nitrendipine and [ 3 H]-prazosin binding to cerebral cortical membranes. The functional studi…

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The 5-HT and alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist effect of four benzylisoquinoline alkaloids on rat aorta.

Abstract The action of four benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (two aporphines—glaucine and apomorphine, a benzylisoquinoline—papaverine and a bisbenzyltetrahydroisoquinoline—antioquine) on 5-HT-induced contraction in rat thoracic aorta has been examined and compared with that of the control drugs: ketanserin, nifedipine, prazosin and phentolamine. The relaxant action on 5-HT-induced contraction was contrasted with that on the contraction induced by noradrenaline and KCl. The results obtained with control drugs show that ketanserin has clear selectivity for 5-HT receptors, whereas prazosin and phentolamine have high selectivity for the α1-adrenoceptor and nifedipine seems to have a more potent ef…

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α-Adrenoceptor Interaction of Tetrandrine and Isotetrandrine in the Rat: Functional and Binding Assays

Abstract The action of 1S,1′S-tetrandrine, a bisbenzyltetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid, on α1-adrenoceptors has been compared with that of its isomer 1R,1′S-isotetrandrine. The work includes binding assays to analyse the affinity of these products for the [3H]prazosin binding site of rat cerebral cortical membranes and functional studies on rat isolated aorta to examine the effects of both alkaloids on intracellular calcium processes related or not to α-adrenoceptor activation. A radioligand receptor-binding study showed that both compounds interacted with the α1-adrenoceptors displacing [3H]prazosin from the specific binding site. The Ki values (inhibition constants) were 0.69±0.12 and 1.6±…

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Multiple actions of glaucine on cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases, α1-adrenoceptor and benzothiazepine binding site at the calcium channel

1. In the present study, the properties of glaucine (an aporphine structurally related to papaverine) were compared with those of papaverine, diltiazem, nifedipine and prazosin. The work includes functional studies on rat isolated aorta contracted with noradrenaline, caffeine or KCl, and a determination of the affinity of glaucine at calcium channel binding sites of alpha-adrenoceptors, by use of [3H]-(+)-cis-diltiazem, [3H]-nitrendipine and [3H]-prazosin binding to cerebral cortical membranes. The effects of glaucine on the different molecular forms of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDE) isolated from bovine aorta were also determined. 2. Contraction evoked by noradrenaline (1 micro…

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