An index for comparing the inhibitory action of vasodilators

A modified aortic multiple-ring preparation for functional studies

A comparison is made of four rat aortic preparations, that is, single ring, spiral strip, zig-zag strip, and multiple-ring, on the basis of the responses to norepinephrine (NE) and acetylcholine (ACh). The single ring preparation was suitable under isometric, but not under isotonic conditions, because of the small isotonic tension which developed in response to the contractile agonist. The spiral and the zig-zag strips showed a discontinuity in the relaxant activity of the ACh, probably because of the removal, or not, of the endothelium from the preparation. The reproducibility of both contracturant and relaxing responses in the multiple-ring preparation makes this the most suitable of all four for the study of vasoactive drugs.

The vasodilatory effects of ketamine on isolated rabbit portal veins

The vasodilation mechanism induced by ketamine was investigated in isolated smooth muscle strips of rabbit portal veins. Ketamine inhibited both the phasic and tonic components of K(+)-induced contraction at concentrations greater than 500 microM and 100 microM, respectively. This effect was reversible and concentration-dependent with concentration-dependent with concentrations up to 1 mM. These effects were similar to those produced by verapamil. In the presence of 60 mM K+, application of Ca2+ (2.5 mM) in the perfusing solution caused tonic contraction of the smooth muscle, and ketamine at concentrations larger than 10 microM strongly inhibited this Ca(2+)-induced contraction. Ketamine (100 microM) also inhibited the K(+)-induced contractions significantly in the absence and presence of guanethidine, tetrodotoxin and propranolol. Ketamine produced similar concentration-dependent relaxations in the tissues with and without endothelium. These results indicate that in rabbit portal vein, vasodilation produced by ketamine is not endothelium-dependent but is likely to be due to blockade of the voltage-gated influx of extracellular Ca2+.

Choice and concentration of contractile agent influence responses of rat aorta to vascular relaxant drugs

Concentration-response (relaxation) curves to diltiazem, forskolin, isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX), procaterol, isoprenaline and sodium nitrite were obtained on isolated ring preparations of rat aorta contracted either submaximally or maximally with noradrenaline or KCl. Diltiazem was more potent on KCl-contracted than on noradrenaline-contracted preparations whether the preparations were submaximally or maximally contracted. The other relaxant drugs were at least 20-fold less potent against KCl than against noradrenaline, but only on maximally contracted preparations. On submaximally-contracted preparations there was no potency difference between preparations contracted with these two contractile agents. Increasing the KCl concentration had a marked influence on the location of the concentration-response (relaxation) curves to all the drugs except diltiazem. This influence was different for drugs that act via cyclic AMP and those that act via cyclic GMP. It is concluded that both the choice of contractile agent (noradrenaline or KCl) and the concentration (especially of KCl) influence relaxant responses of rat aorta to vasodilator drugs.

The effects of bepridil compared with calcium antagonists on rat and rabbit aorta

The vasodilator (relaxant) action of the antianginal agent bepridil was compared with that of drugs known to either block membrane calcium channels, to be calmodulin antagonists or to inhibit intracellular calcium flux using rat and rabbit aortic strips. IC50 values were obtained for relaxation of tonic contractions induced by either potassium (K+) or phenylephrine (PE). The order of relaxant specificity against K+ compared with PE in both rabbit and rat tissue preparations was nisoldipine = nifedipine greater than diltiazem greater than verapamil greater than bepridil greater than PrMDI greater than W7 greater than TFP greater than phentolamine. The ratio for flunarizine equalled that of bepridil in rabbit and that of verapamil in rat. The calmodulin antagonist TFP showed additional alpha-adrenoceptor blocking properties. Analysis of concentration response curves to the antagonists together with PE/K+ ratios revealed a different profile for each drug tested on rabbit aorta. The range of PE/K+ ratios was much wider in rabbit compared to rat. The results suggest that, with the method used, rabbit aortic strips offer a simple technique for drug profiling and allows a clearer differentiation between membrane active and intracellularly acting drugs than does rat aorta. The profile of bepridil resembled more that of intracellularly acting drugs suggesting that intracellular actions (possibly calmodulin inhibition) may play a substantial role in its dilator actions on vascular smooth muscle.