Anikó Kovács

Electrophysiological effects of EGIS-7229, a new antiarrhythmic agent, in isolated mammalian and human cardiac tissues

Abstract The cellular electrophysiological effects of EGIS-7229 (5-chlor-4-[N-(3,4-dimethoxy-phenyl-ethyl)-amino-propylamino]-3(2H)-pyridazinone fumarate), a novel antiarrhythmic agent, was studied using conventional microelectrode techniques in canine cardiac Purkinje fibers and papillary muscle preparations obtained from man, rabbits and guinea pigs. Low concentration of EGIS-7229 (3 μmol/l) selectively lengthened action potential duration (both APD50 and APD90) in all preparations. The effect of higher concentrations (30–100 μmol/l) of EGIS-7229 on action potential duration was variable depending on the preparation studied: in rabbit and human papillary muscles both APD50 and APD90 were lengthened, in canine Purkinje fibers APD90 was lengthened but APD50 was shortened, while in guinea pig papillary muscles both APD50 and APD90 were shortened by high concentrations of the drug. At these higher concentrations EGIS-7229 also decreased the maximum velocity of action potential upstroke (Vmax) and depressed the plateau of action potentials without affecting the resting membrane potential or action potential amplitude.Both reduction of Vmax and lengthening of APD were frequency dependent. The former effect was more prominent at higher pacing frequencies, while the latter was more pronounced at lower driving rates. In guinea pig papillary muscle, the time constant of recovery from Vmax-block was 719 ± 33 ms (n = 18) and the rate of onset of the block was 1.81 ± 0.06 AP–1 (n = 16) in the presence of 100 μmol/l EGIS-7229. EGIS-7229 had a complex action on refractoriness in guinea pig papillary muscles: ERP was lengthened at low concentrations (3 to 10 μmol/l), unchanged at 30 μmol/l and shortened at 100 μmol/l. The ratio of ERP/APD90, however, was significantly increased at concentrations higher than 3 μmol/l.In canine Purkinje fiber, when the delayed rectifier K current (IK) was blocked by d-sotalol (60 μmol/l) and APD was shortened back to its control value by additional application of nicorandil (15 μmol/l), APD was not affected by 3 μmol/l but was shortened by 30 μmol/l of EGIS-7229. 100 μmol/l EGIS-7229 shortened APD in guinea pig papillary muscle. This effect of EGIS-7229 was effectively prevented by nifedipine pretreatment (10 μmol/l). In this preparation, EGIS-7229 also decreased the Vmax of the slow action potential, evoked in the presence of 20 mmol/l external K+ plus 0.5 mmol/l Ba2+.It is likely that EGIS-7229 at low concentrations blocks IK in human, canine, rabbit and guinea pig cardiac preparations, but at higher concentrations also inhibits Ca and Na currents. Therefore, EGIS-7229 appears to carry mixed class III, IV and IB antiarrhythmic properties.

Vasoconstrictor 5-HT receptors in the smooth muscle of the rat middle cerebral artery

Serotonin (5-HT) can constrict cerebral arteries via activation of 5-HT(1B) and 5-HT(2A) receptors. Our goal was to reveal the importance and relative contribution of the two 5-HT receptor subtypes to the serotonin-induced vasoconstriction in the rat middle cerebral artery. The vasoconstrictor effects of 5-carboxamidotryptamine, sumatriptan and 5-HT were measured without and with pre-treatment with SB 216641 (5-HT(1B) antagonist), or ritanserin, (5-HT(2A) antagonist), in endothelium-denuded arteries, in vitro. All agonists caused vasoconstrictions. The order of potency (EC(50)) of the compounds was: 5-carboxamidotryptamine (14±3 nM)>5-HT (270±30 nM)>sumatriptan (5.8±1.9 μM). The concentration-response curve of 5-carboxamidotryptamine resembled the sum of two sigmoid curves (EC(50) 14±3 nM and 15±7 μM), and SB 216641 and ritanserin antagonized its low and high concentration components, respectively. Vasoconstrictions evoked by 5-HT at low and high concentrations were also fully antagonized by SB 216641 and ritanserin, respectively. Sumatriptan constricted the middle cerebral artery exclusively via 5-HT(1B) receptors. The efficacy of 5-carboxamidotryptamine and sumatriptan was low in comparison to the maximum contractile force elicited by 120 mmol/l KCl, reaching only 18-23% for 5-HT(1B) and 14% for 5-HT(2A) receptor activation. In conclusion, 5-HT produced small vasoconstrictions in the rat middle cerebral artery that were mediated by 5-HT(1B) receptors with high potency and by 5-HT(2A) receptors with low potency. Thus, 5-HT may have a minor physiological role in blood flow regulation via 5-HT(1B) receptor activation while 5-HT(2A) receptors seem to have a pathophysiological role in this vessel.

EGIS-7229, the new combined class III antiarrhythmic agent: lack of EAD inducing effect.

EGIS-7229 is a novel antiarrhythmic candidate having multiple mechanisms of action with class III predominance. In this study, the effects of EGIS-7229 and sotalol on action potential duration (APD) and incidence of early afterdepolarizations (EADs) were studied and compared in rabbit papillary muscle by using conventional microelectrode techniques. In control bathing solution, both drugs increased APD in a concentration-dependent manner; however, the prolongation of APD was greater with sotalol than with EGIS-7229 when the same drug concentrations were compared. EAD developed in 3 of the 11 preparations (27%) bathed with a solution containing 3.6 mmol/l CsCl + 2 mmol/l KCl within the first 120 min of superfusion. The addition of 100 micromol/l sotalol to this superfusate increased the incidence of EAD to 83% (10 from 12), whereas the addition of the same concentration of EGIS-7229 prevented the development of EAD in all of the 9 preparations studied. These differences in incidence of EAD are likely attributable to differences in drug-induced increases of APD-50 in the presence of CsCl. Prolongation of APD-90 showed less correlation with incidence of EAD than changes in APD-50. On the basis of these in vitro results, high concentrations of EGIS-7229 cannot be expected to be torsadogenic in vivo--in contrast with sotalol--presumably owing to the combined class III + IV activity of the compound.

Electrophysiological effects of EGIS-7229, a new antiarrhythmic agent, in isolated guinea pig papillary muscle☆

1. The cellular electrphysiological effects of EGIS-7229, a novel antiarrhythmic agent, were studied in guinea pig papillary muscles with the use of conventional microelectrode techniques. 2. The drug had a concentration-dependent biphasic effect on action potential duration (APD). APD was significantly lengthened at low concentration (3 mumol/1), whereas it was shortened at concentrations higher than 10 mumol/l. 3. At concentrations higher than 10 mumol/l, the drug decreased the maximum velocity of action potential upstroke (Vmax), the force contraction, and altered the restitution kinetics of APD. 4. The effect of EGIS-7229 on Vmax was frequently dependent; it was most prominent at short pacing cycle lengths (use-dependent block). 5. On the basis of present results, EGIS-7229 appears to carry mixed class I and class III characteristics. Class III properties are present at low concentrations, whereas, at higher concentrations, class I actions may be predominant.

Effects of EGIS-7625, a selective and competitive 5-HT2B receptor antagonist.

Our aim was to specify the 5-HT2 subtype selectivity of EGIS-7625 (1-benzyl-4-[(2-nitro-4-methyl-5-amino)-phenyl]-piperazine), a new 5-HT2B ligand, in receptor binding studies and characterize its pharmacology at 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B and 5-HT2C receptors in in vivo experiments and in isolated organs, in vitro. EGIS-7625 had high affinity for recombinant human 5-HT2B receptors (pKi = 9.0) but much weaker affinity for 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors (pKi = 6.2 and 7.7, respectively). In the classic 5-HT2B test, EGIS-7625 produced a concentration-related parallel rightward shift in the concentration-response relationship for the 5-HT-induced smooth muscle constriction in rat stomach fundus strips with a pA2 of 9.4. On the other hand, EGIS-7625 was a weak competitive antagonist at 5-HT2A receptors as it shifted 5-HT-induced concentration-response curves to the right at high concentrations (pA2 = 6.7) in rabbit pulmonary artery strips. The m-chlorophenylpiperazine-induced hypomotility and hypophagia was only partially attenuated by EGIS-7625 even at a dose of 30 mg/kg i.p. while mianserin, a non-selective 5-HT antagonist was almost fully effective in these tests at 3 mg/kg i.p., suggesting weak antagonistic effect of EGIS-7625 at neuronal 5-HT2C receptors, in vivo. In conclusion, EGIS-7625 is a potent, selective and competitive 5-HT2B antagonist that seems to be a good research tool for the separation of the functional roles of vascular 5-HT2A and 5-HT2B receptors.

Effects of EGIS-7229 (S 21407), a novel class III antiarrhythmic drug, on myocardial refractoriness to electrical stimulation in vivo and in vitro.

The IKr blocker EGIS-7229 (S-21407), displays class Ib and class IV effects that may alter its pharmacologic profile compared with those of pure IKr blockers. Therefore, the concentration- and frequency-dependent effects of EGIS-7229, and of the IKr blockers d,l-sotalol and dofetilide, on the effective refractory period (ERP) were measured in isolated right ventricular papillary muscle of the rabbit in vitro. The effects of these drugs on right ventricular fibrillation threshold (RVFT) at increasing intravenous doses were also determined in anesthetized cats. Dofetilide and d,l-sotalol increased ERP in a concentration-dependent manner (dofetilide: 3-100 nM; d,l-sotalol: 3-100 μM) with strong reverse frequency dependence at high concentrations. EGIS-7229 concentration dependently lengthened ERP at 1-30 μM. Its effect on ERP was clearly reverse frequency dependent at 3 μM, but this feature of the drug diminished at 10 μM and was not apparent at 30 μM. The effect of EGIS-7229 (30 μM) on ERP was devoid of reverse frequency dependence as it was more effective (31%) than dofetilide (16%) at high-pacing rate (3 Hz), whereas it was less effective (50%) than dofetilide (70%) at slow-pacing rate (1 Hz). Reverse frequency-dependent ERP effect of dofetilide (100 nM) was similarly abolished by the addition of lidocaine (30 μM). EGIS-7229 (1-8 mg/kg iv), d,l-sotalol (1-8 mg/kg iv), and dofetilide (10-80 μg/kg iv) caused a dose-dependent increase in RVFT. The minimum effective dose of d,l-sotalol and EGIS-7229 was 1 and 2 mg/kg, respectively, whereas that of dofetilide was 10 μg/kg. EGIS-7229 induced a smaller peak effect in RVFT than sotalol or dofetilide. In conclusion, EGIS-7229 markedly increased refractoriness to electrical stimulation in vitro and in vivo. Compared with pure IKr blockers, the benefits of EGIS-7229 seem to be a greater lengthening of effective refractory period at rapid stimulation rates, suggesting a strong antiarrhythmic action, and a smaller effect at slow stimulation rates, suggesting low potential to induce early afterdepolarizations.

Decreased vasoconstrictor responses in remote cerebral arteries after focal brain ischemia and reperfusion in the rat, in vitro

The effects of brain ischemia and reperfusion on smooth muscle function in remote cerebral and peripheral arteries are hardly known. Maximum vasoconstrictions (E(max)) caused by 120mmol/l KCl and 5-HT in endothelium-denuded ring preparations were measured in ischemic and control cerebral arteries of rats after a 1-h right middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by 0-min (I/NR) or 2-3-min (I/SR) reperfusion, and in peripheral arteries after I/SR. Surprisingly, vasoconstrictions to 5-HT and 120mmol/lK(+) were attenuated in remote brain vessels after I/SR, i.e. in the contralateral middle cerebral artery and the basilar artery, while I/NR depressed E(max) of 5-HT and high KCl only in the ischemic middle cerebral artery. Pretreatment with N-(2-mercaptopropionyl) glycine (MPG, 100mg/kg i.p.), a free radical scavenger, fully prevented the impairment of vasomotor function in the middle cerebral artery on both sides after I/SR. Moreover, vasomotor functions were normal in the coronary, renal and pulmonary arteries after I/SR. In conclusion, focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion impaired vasoconstrictor responses in remote brain arteries of rats by a mechanism involving free radicals. The lack of similar effects in peripheral vessels indicates poor defence of brain arteries against remote injury caused by reactive oxygen species-dependent mechanisms.

β‐adrenoceptor activation plays a role in the reverse rate‐dependency of effective refractory period lengthening by dofetilide in the guinea‐pig atrium, in vitro

Blockers of the rapid component of the delayed rectifier potassium current (IKr) prolong cardiac action potential duration (APD) and effective refractory period (ERP) in a reverse rate‐dependent manner. Since activation of β‐adrenoceptors attenuates prolongation of APD evoked by IKr blockers, rate‐dependent neuronal noradrenaline liberation in the myocardium may contribute to the reverse rate‐dependent nature of the effects of IKr blockers. In order to test this hypothesis, we studied the effects of dofetilide, a pure IKr blocker, on ERP after activation or blockade of β‐adrenoceptors and after catecholamine depletion in guinea‐pig left atrial myocardium paced at 3, 2 and 1 Hz, in vitro. Dofetilide (100 nM) lengthened ERP in a reverse rate‐dependent manner in the left atrial myocardium of guinea‐pigs. Strong activation of β‐adrenoceptors using 10 nM isoproterenol abolished the dofetilide‐induced lengthening of ERP at all pacing rates. Blockade of the β‐adrenoceptors with metoprolol (1 μM), atenolol (3 μM) or propranolol (300 nM) increased the dofetilide‐evoked prolongation of ERP at 3 and 2 Hz, but not at 1 Hz. As a consequence, metoprolol attenuated while propranolol and atenolol fully eliminated the reverse rate‐dependent nature of the dofetilide‐induced ERP lengthening. In catecholamine‐depleted atrial preparations of the guinea‐pig (24 h pretreatment with 5 mg kg−1 reserpine i.p.), the effect of dofetilide on ERP was not frequency dependent, and propranolol did not alter the effects of dofetilide. In contrast to results obtained in guinea‐pig atrial preparations, propranolol failed to change the reverse rate‐dependent effect of dofetilide on ERP in the right ventricular papillary muscles of rabbits and guinea‐pigs. As an indication of the functional consequences of rate‐dependent noradrenaline liberation, propranolol decreased twitch tension at 3 and 2 Hz but not at 1 Hz in the atrial myocardium of control guinea‐pigs, whereas no such effect was detected in catecholamine‐depleted atrial preparations. Propranolol failed to change contractility of ventricular myocardium in guinea‐pigs and rabbits. It is concluded that rate‐dependent noradrenaline release and the ensuing β‐adrenoceptor activation contributed to the reverse rate‐dependent nature of ERP prolongation caused by IKr blockers in isolated guinea‐pig atrial myocardium.

Hemodynamic Effects of the Light Stabilizer Tinuvin 770 in Dogs In Vivo

Introduction: Tinuvin 770 [bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl) sebacate, Ciba-Geigy, Basel, Switzerland] is a UV light stabilizer that is a component of many plastic materials used world-wide in the medical and food industries. We report on the acute hemodynamic effects of Tinuvin 770 examined in dogs. Materials and Methods: Tinuvin 770 was dissolved in a mixture of saline and ethanol (1:1 v/v) and was administered to 12 intravenously narcotized and respirated dogs in increasing doses (T1-T7: 1, 3.3, 6.6, 10, 33.3, 66.6 and 100 mg, respectively). The doses were given as bolus injections over a three minute period, and the effects were recorded for 12 minutes. The vehicle was used as a control. Hemodynamic parameters (heart rate, blood pressure, end-diastolic pressure, dp/dt, cardiac output) and ECG were monitored continously. Results: At doses T1-T4, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, mean pressure and ventricular contractility were significantly decreased without significant changes in cardiac output, heart rate, or PQ interval. At doses T5 and T6, declines in blood pressure and myocardial contractility were observed. At doses T6 and T7, heart rate and PQ interval decreased substantially. Irreversible circulatory failure occured in one dog after administering dose T6 and in 8 dogs following dose T7. Conclusion: Tinuvin 770 induces acute hemodynamic alterations. In lower doses, it causes peripheral vasodilatation, however at higher doses acute cardiac failure occured. Plastics containing Tinuvin 770 should be used with care in medical practice and the laboratory.

In Vivo Preclinical Evaluation of a Promising Antiarrhythmic Agent, EGIS‐7229

Preclinical Research