B. Cantabrana

Progesterone and pregnanolone derivatives relaxing effect on smooth muscle

1. The effect of gestagens, 5 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (10(-6) x 10(-5) M), 5 beta-hydroxyprogesterone (10(-6)-3 x 10(-5) M), progesterone (6 x 10(-6)-10(-4) M), pregnanolone (10(-6)-10(-5) M), allopregnanolone (10(-6)-10(-4) M) and epipregnanolone (10(-6)-6 x 10(-5) M) on rat uterine contractions induced by KCl (60 mM), has been assayed. 2. All drugs assayed relaxed the tonic-contraction induced by KCl in a concentration-dependent way. The respectives IC50 were 31.3 +/- 4.1 x 10(-6) M (progesterone), 8.9 +/- 0.8 x 10(-6) M (5 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone), 3.8 +/- 0.3 x 10(-6) M (5 beta-hydroxyprogesterone), 3.1 +/- 0.1 x 10(-6) M (pregnanolone), 21.2 +/- 3.1 x 10(-6) M (allopregnanolone) and 6.3 +/- 1.3 x 10(-6) M (epipregnanolone). This relaxing effect was partially or totally counteracted by CaCl2 (1-10 mM) 3. Cycloheximide (10 micrograms/ml) significantly shifted to the right the effect of allopregnanolone but not the effect of the other drugs. Actinomycin D (5 micrograms/ml) did not modify the effect of allopregnanolone. 4. Our results suggest that the relaxing effect of gestagens in the rat uterus could be related to inhibition on calcium influx and mainly occur through non-genomic mechanisms.

Spasmolytic and calmodulin inhibitory effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in vitro.

The effect of several anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), the calmodulin inhibitor W-7 and cortisol on vanadate-induced tonic contraction and on calmodulin dependent cAMP-phosphodiesterase activity have been assayed. Indomethacin, diclofenac, phenylbutazone, mefenamic acid, naproxen, tolmetin, piroxicam, aspirin and W-7, but not metimazol, produce dose-dependent relaxation of vanadate-induced tonic contraction on isolated rat uterus. Cortisol relaxes the vanadate contraction up to 45%. None of the drugs assayed inhibit the basal activity of phosphodiesterase with concentrations lower than 1 mM. However, indomethacin, diclofenac, phenylbutazone, mefenamic acid, naproxen, piroxicam, aspirin and W-7 inhibit, in a concentration-dependent way, the calmodulin-stimulated activity of phosphodiesterase. The maximum inhibition achieved with tolmetin (1 mM) and cortisol (1 mM) was 38% and 24%, respectively. Metamizol has no effect on basal or/and stimulated phosphodiesterase. This, as far as we know, is the first description of relationship between NSAIDs and calmodulin-dependent processes and our results suggest that the inhibition of calmodulin with NSAIDs may be directly related to their pKa and liposolubility.

Non-genomic effects of catecholestrogens in the in vitro rat uterine contraction

1. The effects of catecholestrogens 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OH E2, 0.6-30 microM), 4-hydroxyestradiol (4-OH E2, 1-30 microM) and 2-methoxyestradiol (2-MeO E2, 0.6-30 microM) on rat uterine contraction induced by KCl (60 mM), have been assayed. 2. All drugs assayed relaxed the tonic-contraction induced by KCl in a concentration-dependent way. The EC50s were: 4.4 +/- 0.5, 4.2 +/- 0.3 and 8.5 +/- 0.7 microM for 2-MeO E2, 2-OH E2 and 4-OH E2, respectively. This relaxing effect was counteracted by CaCl2 (1-10 mM) but not by the calcium channel agonist Bay k 8644 (1 nM-1 microM). 3. The effect of 2-MeO E2 is not modified by propranolol (1 microM), cycloheximide (35 microM), actinomycin D (4 microM), alpha-difluoromethyl-ornithine (10 mM) or genistein (10 microM). Nor did cycloheximide (35 microM) or actinomycin D (4 microM) modify the relaxing effect of 2-OH E2 and 4-OH E2. Propranolol (1 microM) significantly increased the effect of 4-OH E2 but not the effect of 2-OH E2. 4. Our results suggest that the relaxing effect of catecholestrogens in the rat uterus is a non-genomic effect and could be related to inhibition of extracellular calcium entry.

Effects of steroidal and non-steroidal antiandrogens on the left atrium of the rat in vitro☆

1. The effect of steroidal-cyproterone acetate (CPA, 10(-7)-10(-5) M), clormadinone acetate (CMA, 10(-7)-10(-5) M), medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA, 10(-7)-10(-5) M) and spironolactone (SPI, 10(-7)10(-5)M) and non-steroidal-flutamide (F, 10(-7)-6 x 10(-5) M) and cimetidine (C, 10(-7)-10(-4)M) antiandrogens on contractile force of electrically stimulated left atria of the rat have been assayed. 2. CPA, CMA, MPA and F inhibit, in a dose-dependent way, the contractile force of left atria. SPI enhanced (P less than 0.01 at 10(-6) M), and cimetidine did not modify the contractile force. 3. F, but not CPA, CMA, MPA or SPI, inhibit the contractile force induced by CaCl2 (0.9-7.2 mM) on electrically stimulated left atria. 4. The inhibitory effect of CPA (10(-7)-10(-5) M) was significantly increased by atropine (10(-6) M) and diltiazen (10(-5) M), and significantly reduced by yohimbine (10(-7) M) and in reserpinized (2.5 mg/kg, 48 and 24 hr before experiments) rats. 5. Our results suggest that the negative inotropism of steroidal antiandrogens could be related to inhibition of noradrenaline release, presumably through an alpha 2 adrenergic effect. The negative inotropism produced by F is related to inhibition of calcium dependent process on left atria contraction.

Calcium-and G-protein-related spasmolytic effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on rat uterus contractions in vitro.

The effects of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) acetylsalicylic acid, metamizole, phenylbutazone, indometacin, piroxicam, naproxen, tolmetin, diclofenac, and mefenamic acid on methacholine (10 mumol/l), prostaglandin F2 alpha (1 mumol/l), and KCl (60 mmol/l) induced contractions of isolated rat uterus were assayed. All of these cause a concentration-dependent inhibition of methacholine and prostaglandin F2 alpha-induced contractions with the exception of acetylsalicylic acid, metamizole, and naproxen. All except acetylsalicylic acid and metamizole relaxed in a concentration-dependent manner the tonic contractions induced by KCl. CaCl2 (0.1-10 mmol/l) totally counteracted the relaxant effects of naproxen and tolmetin, but not those of the other NSAIDs. Bay K8644 did not revert the effect of the NSAIDs. Pertussis toxin (50 micrograms/l) did not modify the effect of indometacin, mefenamic acid, and tolmetin, but partially antagonized the effects of diclofenac and naproxen and increased the effect of phenylbutazone and piroxicam. These results suggest that some of the NSAIDs assayed induce smooth muscle relaxation by mechanisms independent of prostaglandin synthesis inhibition, but related to the inhibition of extracellular calcium influx through mechanisms related or unrelated to pertussis toxin sensible G proteins.

Effects of inhibitors of eicosanoid synthesis in the uterus of ovariectomized rats and rats in natural oestrus: relation with calcium.

1. The effects of 4 inhibitors of eicosanoid synthesis (ESIs)--mepacrine (MEP, 10(-5) - 3 x 10(-4) M), nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDHGA, 10(-6) - 2 x 10(-5) M), indomethacin (IND, 2 x 10(-6) M and 2 x 10(-5) M) and imidazole (IMI, 10(-5) M and 10(-4) M)--on the motility induced by oxytocin (OT, 0.5 and 4 mU/ml) in uterus of rats in natural oestrus and of ovariectomized rats have been studied. 2. MEP, NDHGA and IND, but not IMI, inhibited the motility induced by both concentrations of OT in natural oestrus. Ovariectomy enhanced the effects of all ESIs, except the one of MEP. 3. MEP and NDHGA, but not IND or IMI, inhibited the contractions induced by methacholine (10(-5) M) and prostaglandin F2a (10(-6) M) and relaxed in a dose-dependent way the tonic component of the contractile response to KCl 60 mM (DI50: 6.14 +/- 0.38 and 1.38 +/- 0.29 x 10(-5) M, respectively). 4. CaCl2 (0.1-10 mM) reverted the relaxation of KCl contractions produced by MEP but not by NDHGA.

Effects of androgens and antiandrogens on the inotropism induced by ouabain and isoproterenol on the left atrium of the rat in vitro

1. The effect of androgens 5 beta- and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT, 10(-9) M), and the antiandrogens cyproterone acetate (CPA, 10(-8)-10(-6) M), chlormadinone acetate (CMA, 10(-8)-10(-6) M), medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA, 10(-8)-10(-6) M), spironolactone (SPI, 10(-5) M), flutamide (F, 10(-5) M) and cimetidine (C, 10(-5) M), on inotropic positive effect induced by ouabain (10(-8)-10(-5) M) and isoproterenol (10(-8)-10(-6) M), on electrically stimulated left atria of rat, has been assayed. 2. Ouabain (10(-6) M) did not modify the inotropic effect of isoproterenol (10(-8)-10(-6) M). 3. The androgens 5 beta- and 5 alpha-DHT (10(-9) M) and the antiandrogens SPI (10(-6) M), F (10(-5) M) and C (10(-5) M) inhibit the inotropic effect of ouabain and isoproterenol on electrically stimulated left atria of the rat. 4. The antiandrogens CPA, MPA and CMA to 10(-7) M, inhibit the inotropic effect of ouabain. The CPA (10(-8)-10(-6) M) inhibit, in a dose-dependent way the positive inotropic effect of isoproterenol. MPA and CMA (10(-8)-10(-6) M) also inhibit the inotropic effect isoproterenol but the inhibitory effect is greater with 10(-8) M than 10(-6) M of both drugs. 5. Taken together, our results suggest that steroidal hormones could modulate the cardiac contractility through interference with Na-pump in a non-digitalic site and/or with intracellular mediators in left atrium.

Mechanisms involved in the effects of phenidone, diclofenac and ethacrynic acid in rat uterus in vitro

1. The effects of phenidone (P, 10(-4)-10(-3) M), sodium diclofenac (D, 10(-5)-10(-4) M) and ethacrynic acid (E, 10(-5)-10(-4) M), proposed as inhibitors of eicosanoid synthesis, on the contractions of rat uterus induced by several agonists have been studied. 2. P, D and E inhibit the motility induced by oxytocin (4 mU/ml) (IC50: 4.62 x 10(-4), 2.55 x 10(-4) and 2.98 x 10(-5) M, respectively). 3. P (10(-3) M), D (10(-4) M) and E (10(-4) M) also inhibit the contraction induced by methacholine (10(-5) M), prostaglandin F2a (10(-6) M) and CaCl2 (6 mM), and relaxed, in a dose-dependent way, the tonic component of contraction to KCl (60 mM) (IC50: 5.81 x 10(-4), 6.67 x 10(-5) and 7.55 x 10(-5) M, respectively). 4. The CaCl2 (0.1-10 mM) reverted the relaxation of KCl contraction produced by P, but not by D or E. None of the inhibitions on CaCl2 (6 mM) are reverted by Bay K 8644. 5. D and E also relaxed the tonic contraction to vanadate (10(-4) M) in uterus incubated in calcium free solution P, enhances the vanadate-induced contractions.

Nitric oxide and cyclic nucleotides participate in the relaxation of diclofenac on rat uterine smooth muscle

1. The effect of diclofenac (10-100 microM) on vanadate-induced contraction of rat uterus in calcium-free buffer containing EDTA and the modification of this response by pertussis toxin (50 micrograms/ml), Rp-cAMPS (10 microM), W-7 (10 and 60 microM), L-NMMA (10 and 100 microM) and D-NMMA (100 microM) has been assessed. The effects of sodium nitroprusside (10 microM-1 mM), 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1; 0.1-100 microM), 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxaline-1-one (ODQ; 0.1-100 microM) and 8-BrcGMP (10 microM to 1 mM) on vandate-evoked contraction were also studied. 2. Diclofenac produced dose-dependent relaxation of vanadate (0.3 mM)-induced contraction (EC50:17.3 +/- 1.8 microM, n = 11). This effect was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced by pertussis toxin (EC50: 37.4 +/- 4.5 microM, n = 6) and Rp-cAMPS (EC50:36.3 +/- 3.1 microM, n = 6). 3. The calmodulin inhibitor W-7 (1-100 microM) relaxed, in a concentration-dependent way, the vanadate contraction (EC50:67.0 +/- 18 microM). W-7 (10 and 60 microM) did not modify the relaxation elicited by diclofenac, which suggests that calmodulin inhibition and the increase of cAMP are two different actions of diclofenac. 4. The action of diclofenac was antagonized (P < 0.05) by L-NMMA (100 microM) and ODQ (1 and 100 microM) but not by D-NMMA (100 microM), which suggests the involvement of NO-synthase in this effect. 5. Sodium nitroprusside (1 mM) relaxed the vanadate contraction by only 31.7 +/- 1.04% (n = 7) and SIN-1 by 27.1 +/- 1.2% (n = 6). This suggests that, under the present experimental conditions, both NO donors were ineffective. However, 8-BrcGMP (EC50:327 +/- 71 microM, n = 7) relaxed this contraction up to 58.7 +/- 1.89%. Rp-cAMPS (10 microM) did not modify the 8-BrcGMP effect. Thus, a partial contribution of cGMP to inhibitor effect of drugs on rat uterus was possible. 6. The association between L-NMMA plus ODQ, L-NMMA plus Rp-cAMPS and ODQ plus Rp-cAMPS did not produce more displacement than L-NMMA, Rp-cAMPS or ODQ alone. This suggests the involvement of NO and cyclic nucleotides in the relaxant effect of diclofenac in rat uterus.

Involvement of sodium/calcium exchange in the diclofenac-induced spasmolytic effect on rat uterus

1. The effect of diclofenac (10-100 microM) on rat uterus contraction and its modification by ouabain (0.1 mM), amiloride (0.1 and 1 mM), ouabain (0.1 mM) plus amiloride (1 mM) and the replacement of sodium by choline have been assayed. 2. Diclofenac produces dose-dependent relaxation of vanadate (0.3 mM)-induced contraction (EC50, 17.3 +/- 1.8 microM). This effect is significantly reduced in choline medium (EC50, 49.1 +/- 4.5 microM) and by ouabain in sodium-medium (EC50, 52 +/- 7 microM). 3. Amiloride displaces, in a dose-dependent way, the diclofenac-induced relaxant effect. However, ouabain plus amiloride did not produce a sinergic effect. 4. Our results suggest that diclofenac produces relaxation of vanadate-induced contraction by activation of Na+/Ca(2+)-exchange.