Hideki Dohmoto

Blockade of N-type Ca2+ current by cilnidipine (FRC-8653) in acutely dissociated rat sympathetic neurones

1 The inhibitory effects of cilnidipine (FRC‐8653) and various organic Ca2+ channel blockers on high voltage‐activated Ba2+ currents (HVA IBa) in rat sympathetic neurones were examined by means of the conventional whole‐cell patch‐clamp recording mode under voltage‐clamped conditions. 2 HVA IBa was classified into three different current components with subtype selective peptide Ca2+ channel blockers. No ω‐Agatoxin IVA‐sensitive (P‐type) or ω‐conotoxin MVIIC‐sensitive (Q‐type) current components were observed. Most (>85%) IBa was found to consist of ω‐conotoxin GVIA‐sensitive N‐type components. 3 The application of cilnidipine inhibited HVA IBa in a concentration‐dependent manner. The Kd value for cilnidipine was 0.8 μM. Cilnidipine did not shift the current‐voltage (I‐V) relationship for HVA IBa, as regards the threshold potential and peak potential where the amplitude reached a maximum. 4 High concentrations of three hypotensive Ca2+ channel blockers, nifedipine, diltiazem and verapamil, all inhibited HVA IBa in a concentration‐dependent manner. The Kd values for nifedipine, diltiazem and verapamil were 131, 151 and 47 μM, respectively. A piperazine‐type Ca2+ channel blocker, flunarizine, showed a relatively potent blocking action on IBa. The Kd value was about 3 μM. 5 These results thus show that cilnidipine potently inhibits the sympathetic Ca2+ channels which predominantly consist of an ω‐Cg‐GVIA‐sensitive component. This blockade of the N‐type Ca2+ channel, as well as the L‐type Ca2+ channel by cilnidipine suggests that it could be used therapeutically for treatment of hypersensitive sympathetic disorders associated with hypertension.

Effects of a dual L/N-type Ca2+ channel blocker cilnidipine on neurally mediated chronotropic response in anesthetized dogs

We investigated the effects of an L-type and N-type Ca(2+) channel blocker, cilnidipine, on neurally mediated chronotropic responses to clarify the anti-autonomic profile of cilnidipine in anesthetized dogs. Pretreatment with cilnidipine (0.3, 1.0 and 3.0 microg/kg, i.v.), which decreased mean blood pressure by 5 to 31 mm Hg, inhibited the changes in heart rate and plasma norepinephrine concentration induced by bilateral carotid artery occlusion, whereas it had no effect on vagal nerve stimulation-induced bradycardia. These results suggest that antihypertensive and antisympathetic doses of cilnidipine fail to influence chronotropic responses mediated by parasympathetic nerve activation in the in vivo canine heart.

Effects of AH-1058, a new antiarrhythmic drug, on experimental arrhythmias and cardiac membrane currents.

AH-1058 is a newly synthesized antiarrhythmic agent. We investigated the antiarrhythmic and electrophysiological effects of AH-1058 in experimental arrhythmia models and isolated cardiomyocytes. In the ouabain-induced arrhythmia model of the guinea pig, pretreatment with AH-1058 (0.1-0.3 mg/kg, i.v.) delayed the appearance of premature ventricular complex (PVC) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) induced by intravenous infusion of ouabain. However, disopyramide (10 mg/kg, i.v.) delayed only that of PVC, and verapamil (1 mg/kg, i.v.) failed to affect the ouabain-induced ventricular arrhythmias. In the reperfusion-induced arrhythmia model of the rat, in which 5-min coronary occlusion and 10-min reperfusion were produced, AH-1058 (0.1-0.3 mg/kg, i.v.) inhibited the incidence of both ventricular tachycardia (VT) and VF, whereas disopyramide (5 mg/kg, i.v.) inhibited only reperfusion-induced VF. On the other hand, a higher dose of AH-1058 (1 mg/kg, i.v.) did not affect the aconitine-induced arrhythmias in rats, which were inhibited by disopyramide (5 mg/kg, i.v.). We also confirmed oral activity of AH-1058 in the reperfusion-induced arrhythmia model of the rat. AH-1058, at doses of 2-4 mg/kg, dose-dependently inhibited VT and VF. Electrophysiological experiments with patch-clamp techniques revealed that AH-1058 potently suppressed the L-type Ca2+ currents in isolated cardiomyocytes of the guinea pig. These results suggest that AH-1058 is a potent antiarrhythmic drug having a Ca2+ channel-blocking action. The antiarrhythmic profile of AH-1058 is different from that of disopyramide and verapamil.

Cardiovascular action of a cardioselective Ca2+channel blocker AH-1058 in conscious dogs assessed by telemetry

AH-1058, 4-(5H-Dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5-ylidene)-1-[(E)-3-(3-methoxy-2-nitro)phenyl-2-propenyl]piperidine hydrochloride, is a novel Ca(2+)channel blocker exerting cardioselective action in isolated or anesthetized canine heart preparations. To clarify the cardiac and hemodynamic action of AH-1058 in conscious dogs, we assessed the effects of the drug on the hemodynamic parameters continuously recorded by telemetry in conscious unrestrained beagle dogs, and its cardiovascular effects were compared with those of verapamil, disopyramide and atenolol. Oral administration of AH-1058 (0.15, 0.3 and 0.6 mg/kg) reduced the systolic blood pressure and maximal upstroke velocity of the left ventricular pressure (LVdP/dt(max)), increased heart rate and prolonged the QA interval in a dose-dependent manner whereas the drug did not affect diastolic blood pressure. Verapamil at 10 mg/kg reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure with little effect on heart rate, LVdP/dt(max) and QA interval. Disopyramide at 20 mg/kg increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure, decreased LVdP/dt(max) and prolonged the QA interval with little changes in heart rate. Atenolol at 10 mg/kg decreased LVdP/dt(max) and prolonged the QA interval with little changes in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate. The time course of the cardiohemodynamic action of AH-1058 was longer than those of the other drugs. These results suggest that AH-1058 is a long-acting cardiodepressive drug, and its hemodynamic profile is obviously different from that of disopyramide and atenolol. This unique cardiovascular profile may be beneficial for the treatment of certain pathological processes in which selective inhibition of the ventricular Ca(2+)channels would be the target of drug therapy.

Comparison of cardiovascular effects of a new calcium channel blocker AH-1058 with those of verapamil assessed in blood-perfused canine heart preparations.

The cardiovascular effects of AH-1058, a novel calcium channel blocker, were examined in comparison with those of verapamil using canine isolated, blood-perfused papillary muscle, atrioventricular node, and sinoatrial node preparations. Intravenous administration of AH-1058 (20, 50, and 100 microg/kg) or verapamil (20, 50, and 100 microg/kg) to the blood-donor dog induced negative inotropic, dromotropic, and chronotropic effects and a coronary vasodilator action in cross-circulated isolated heart preparations, simultaneously inducing the same cardiac effects in the blood-donor dog. The order of potency of the effects of AH-1058 was ventricular contraction > coronary blood flow >> atrioventricular conduction > sinoatrial automaticity, whereas that of verapamil was coronary blood flow >> atrioventricular conduction >> sinoatrial automaticity > ventricular contraction. The cardiosuppressive effects of AH-1058, especially on ventricular contraction, were slower in onset and longer lasting than those of verapamil. These results suggest that this unique cardiovascular profile of AH-1058 may become beneficial for the treatment of certain pathologic processes, in which selective inhibition of ventricular calcium channels would be essential for drug therapy.

Antiarrhythmic and cardiohemodynamic effects of a novel Ca2+ channel blocker, AH-1058, assessed in canine arrhythmia models

The antiarrhythmic profile and cardiohemodynamic effect of a novel Ca(2+) channel blocker, 4-(5H-Dibenzo[a, d]cyclohepten-5-ylidene)-1-[(E)-3-(3-methoxy-2-nitro)phenyl-2-p ropeny l]piperidine hydrochloride (AH-1058), were analyzed using the epinephrine-, digitalis- and two-stage coronary ligation-induced canine ventricular arrhythmia models. Intravenous administration of AH-1058 (100 microg/kg) effectively suppressed each of the ventricular arrhythmias accompanied by weak hypotensive effects. The results contrast well with those of a typical Ca(2+) channel blocker, verapamil, which suppresses only the epinephrine-induced ventricular arrhythmia with severe hypotension. These results indicate that AH-1058 may possess a more selective inhibitory action on Ca(2+) channels in the heart than on those in the vessels. Furthermore, the antiarrhythmic actions of AH-1058 were slower in onset and longer-lasting, than those in our previous studies using other antiarrhythmic drugs, including Na(+) and Ca(2+) channel blockers. The antiarrhythmic effects of AH-1058 did not correlate with its plasma concentrations when administered either intravenously or orally. These results suggest that AH-1058 can become a long-acting Ca(2+) channel blocker with unique antiarrhythmic properties, and that AH-1058 may be used in certain pathological processes, for which selective inhibition of the cardiac Ca(2+) channels is essential.