Synergisms of cardiovascular effects between iptakalim and amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide or propranolol in anesthetized rats

The primary object of this fundamental research was to survey the synergistic cardiovascular effects of iptakalim, a novel ATP–sensitive potassium channel(KATP) opener, and clinical first-line antihypertensive drugs, such as calcium antagonists, thiazide diuretics and β receptor blockers by a 2×2 factorial-design experiment. It would provide a theoretical basis for the development of new combined antihypertensive therapy program after iptakalim is applied to the clinic. Amlodipine besylate, hydrochlorothiazide and propranolol were chosen as clinical first-line antihypertensive drugs. Blood pressure, heart rate(HR) and cardiac functions were observed in anesthetized normal rats by an eightchannel physiological recorder. The results showed that iptakalim monotherapy in a low dose could produce significant antihypertensive effect. There was no interaction between iptakalim and amlodipine on the maximal changes of systolic blood pressure(SBP), diastolic blood pressure(DBP), mean arterial blood pressure(MABP), the left ventricular systolic pressure(LVSP), and the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure(LVEDP)(P>0.05). However, the effects of combination iptakalim/amlodipine on the maximal changes of SBP, DBP, MABP, LVSP and LVEDP were more obvious than those of iptakalim or amlodipine monotherapy. And there was strong positive interaction between iptakalim and amlodipine on the maximal changes of HR(P>0.05). According to the maximal changes of DBP, MABP, LVSP and LVEDP(P<0.05) of combination iptakalim with hydrochlorothiazide, there was strong positive interaction between them. But there was no interaction between iptakalim and hydrochlorothiazide on the maximal drop of SBP and HR(P>0.05). According to the maximal drops of DBP, MABP of combination iptakalim with propranolol, there was strong positive interaction between them(P<0.05). But there was no interaction between iptakalim and propranolol on the maximal changes of SBP, LVSP,LVEDP and HR(P>0.05). In conclusion, it was the first time to study the effects of amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide or propranolol, which had different mechanisms of action from iptakalim, on cardiovascular effects of iptakalim in anesthetized normal rats. This study proved that the combination of iptakalim with hydrochlorothiazide or propranolol respectively had significant synergism on lowering blood pressure, while the combination of iptakalim/amlodipine had additive action on lowering blood pressure. Meanwhile the antihypertensive effect was explicit, stable and long-lasting. Iptakalim thus appears suitable for the clinical treatment of hypertensive people who need two or more kinds of antihypertensive agents.

Non-neuronal muscarinic receptor activation prevents apoptosis of endothelial cells induced by homocysteine

Objective Endothelial apoptosis plays an important role in the initiation of atherosclerosis. It would be useful to clarify whether activation of non-neuronal muscarinic receptor(NNMR) could prevent endothelial apoptosis and atherosclerosis. We investigated the effects of NNMR activation on regulating rat aortic endothelial cells(RAECs) apoptosis induced by homocysteine, an independent risk factor of atherosclerosis, and further studied its molecular mechanism. Methods RAECs were incubated using homocysteine at the concentration of 2.7 mmol/L for 36 h. RAECs were also pre-treated with carbachol or arecoline to examine their effects. RT-PCR was used to assess changes in the gene expression related to cell apoptosis. Results Incubation of RAECs with homocysteine at the concentration of 2.7 mmol/L resulted in morphologic changes, such as cellular shrinkage, membrane blebbing, chromatin condensation and margination. These could be attenuated by pretreatment with carbachol and arecoline at the concentration of 10 μmol/L for 12 h. Homocysteine induced apoptosis in RAECs and the molecular mechanisms were associated with the regulation of fas, fas-L and caspase-8 in the death receptor pathway, bcl-2, bcl-xL and bax in the mitochondrial pathway, caspase-12 in the endoplasmic reticulum pathway and caspase-3, caspase-6 and p53 as downstream effectors. Carbachol and arecoline attenuated the effects of homocysteine on genes in the death receptor pathway, in the mitochondrial pathway and in the downstream pathway. Atropine could reverse all of the effects of arecoline. Conclusion Activation of NNMR by carbacol and arecoline inhibits homocysteine-induced endothelial cell apoptosis mainly through regulation of death receptor pathway, mitochondrial pathway and downstream effectors.

Activation of SUR2B/Kir6.1-type K ATP channels protects glomerular endothelial,mesangial and tubular epithelial cells against oleic acid renal damage

Cumulative evidence suggests that renal vascular endothelial injury play an important role in initiating and extending tubular epithelial injury and contribute to the development of ischemic acute renal failure.Our previous studies have demonstrated that iptakalim's endothelium protection is related to activation of SUR2B/Kir6.1 subtype of ATP sensitive potassium channel(K ATP) in the endothelium.It has been reported that SUR2B/Kir6.1 channels are widely distributed in the tubular epithelium,glomerular mesangium,and the endothelium and the smooth muscle of blood vessels.Herein,we hypothesized that activating renal K ATP channels with iptakalim might have directly neroprotective effects.In this study,glomerular endothelial,mesangial and tubular epithelial cells which are the main cell types to form nephron were exposed to oleic acid(OA) at various concentrations for 24 h.0.25 μl/ml OA could cause cellular damage of glomerular endothelium and mesangium,while 1.25μl/ml OA could lead to the injury of three types of renal cells.It was observed that pretreatment with iptakalim at concentrations of 0.1,1,10 or 100 μmol/L prevented cellular damage of glomerular endothelium and tubular epithelium,whereas iptakalim from 1 to 100 μmol/L prevented the injury of mesangial cells.Our data showed iptakalim significantly increased survived cell rates in a concentration-dependent manner,significantly antagonized by glibenclamide,a K ATP blocker.Iptakalim played a protective role in the main cell types of kidney,which was consistent with natakalim,a highly selective SUR2B/Kir6.1 channel opener.Iptakalim exerted protective effects through activating SUR2B/Kir6.1 channels,suggesting a new strategy for renal injury by its endothelial and renal cell protection.

Stimulation of endothelial non-neuronal muscarinic receptor attenuates the progression of atherosclerosis via inhibiting endothelial cells activation

Objective To investigate the effects of non-neuronal muscarinic receptors(NNMR) stimulation on atherosclerosis and endothelial cells activation.Methods Atherosclerosis model was established in ApoE^(-/-)mice by a high fat diet for 7 weeks.During the experimental periods,animals were received a low(7 mg/kg/d) or a high(21 mg/kg/d) dose of arecoline by gavage.At the termination of the treatments,serum total cholesterol and NO levels were measured,and the aorta morphology was analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin staining.The gene expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1) and adhesion molecules in the thoracic aortas was determined by RT-PCR,and the MCP-1 protein expression and NFkB activity were detected by Western blot analysis.NO production,MCP-1 secretion in cultured rat aortic endothelial cells(RAECs),and monocyte-endothelium adhesion assay were also performed after arecoline treatments.Results Arecoline efficiently decreased atherosclerotic plaque areas,increased serum nitric oxide(NO) content,suppressed the mRNA and protein expression of MCP-1,and modulated the IκB-αdegradation and P65 phosphorylation in the aortae of ApoE^(-/-) mice.Furthermore,arecoline promoted NO production and suppressed MCP-1 secretion in cultured RAECs after ox-LDL exposure,and either atropine or NG-nitro-L-arginine methylester could abrogate these effects.Arecoline also significantly inhibited the adherence of U937 monocytes to the ox-LDL injured human umbilical vein endothelial cells,which could be abolished by atropine.Conclusion Our results indicate that arecoline attenuates the progression of atherosclerosis and inhibits endothelial cells activation and adherence by stimulating endothelial NNMR.These effects,at least in part,are due to its modulation on NF-kB activity.

Modulation by desensitized nicotinic receptors on metabolism of DA in striatum derived from the hemiparkinsonian model

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of desensitized nicotinic receptors(n ACh Rs) on striatal dopaminergic system in the hemiparkinsonian rats treated with 6-hydroxydopamine(6-OHDA). Methods: We examined the effects of desensitized n ACh Rs on the levels of dopamine(DA) and its metabolites, m RNA expression of dopamine receptor D1,D2 and monoamine oxidase B(MAO-B) in the striatum of 6-OHDA-lesioned rats using high-performance liquid chromatography and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results: The results showed that n ACh Rs desensitization following repeated nicotine stimulation could reverse significantly the decrease of striatal DA and its metabolites levels and the increase in DA turnover in lesioned side striatum of hemiparkinsonian rats. Dopamine D1 receptor m RNA expression increased significantly, whereas dopamine D2 receptor m RNA expression remained unchanged in lesioned side striatum of nicotine-treated rats compared to 6-OHDA-lesioned rats when n ACh Rs were desensitized. Meanwhile, nicotine-treated rats displayed a significant decrease in MAO-B m RNA expression in lesioned side striatum compared to 6-OHDA-lesioned rats after n ACh Rs desensitization. Conclusion: These results suggest that n ACh Rs desensitization could promote DA level, upregulate dopamine D1 receptor expression and downregulate MAO-B expression in striatum of hemiparkinsonian rats.