PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Pinacidil”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

The effects of racemic, (+)- and (-)-pinacidil on the membrane potential of the rat aorta.

The endothelium-intact and -denuded rat aorta is hyperpolarized by racemic and (-)-pinacidil, probably by opening ATP-dependent potassium channels. (+)-Pinacidil caused depolarization of the endothelium-intact and -denuded rat aorta. The depolarization induced by 20 mAM KCl in the endothelium-intact rat aorta was reversed by racemic and (-)-, but not by (+)-pinacidil. On the endothelium-intact rat aorta, isoprenaline produced hyperpolarization and ICI 118551 (erythro-(+/-)-1-(7-methylindan-4-yloxy)-3-isopropylamino butan-2-ol) had no effect alone but prevented isoprenaline from causing hyperpolarization. The hyperpolarization induced by isoprenaline was reversed by racemic and (+)-, but not by (-)-pinacidil. Glibenclamide depolarized the endothelium-intact rat aorta and prevented the hyperpolarizing action of racemic pinacidil and (-)-pinacidil. (+)-Pinacidil prevented the hyperpolarizing action of (-)-pinacidil. Glibenclamide is probably preventing the hyperpolarization associated with opening of the ATP-dependent potassium channel by blocking this channel. Several mechanisms may underlie the depolarizing action of (+)-pinacidil, including blocking of ATP-dependent potassium channels.

Animals↗

Pretreatment with pinacidil promotes arrhythmias in an isolated tissue model of cardiac ischemia and reperfusion.

It is not clear whether activation of ATP-sensitive potassium channels (K(ATP)) with pinacidil in advance of ischemia and reperfusion promotes or suppresses arrhythmias. This study determines the effects of pinacidil pretreatment on arrhythmias and the changes in cellular electrophysiological parameters in segments of guinea pig right ventricular free walls exposed to simulated ischemia and reperfusion. Microelectrode recordings were made from endo- and epicardium during endocardial pacing. Preparations were superfused with Tyrode's solution and then exposed for 5 min to either 100 muM pinacidil or its solvent. After a 5-min washout, preparations were exposed to 15 min of ischemic conditions (hypoxia, hypercapnia, hyperkalemia, acidosis, lactate accumulation, and glucose-free) followed by reperfusion with Tyrode's solution. Pinacidil pretreatment increased ischemia-induced abbreviation of endo- and epicardial action potential durations and effective refractory periods. Pinacidil had no effect on endocardial conduction times but greatly prolonged transmural conduction during ischemia and early reperfusion, and it increased the incidence of transmural conduction block. Pinacidil pretreatment caused a significant increase in the incidence of arrhythmias in ischemia and reperfusion. Reperfusion arrhythmias in control preparations had electrophysiological characteristics of activity initiated by afterpotentials; however, arrhythmias with these characteristics were absent in pinacidil-pretreated preparations, and all reperfusion arrhythmias exhibited characteristics of reentry. The increased incidence of re-entrant arrhythmias is likely explained by pinacidil-induced reduction in effective refractory periods in combination with prolonged transmural conduction times. Thus, pinacidil pretreatment enhanced the effects of ischemia and reperfusion on action potential duration, effective refractory period, and transmural conduction, and it promoted re-entrant arrhythmias.

Animals↗

Differential effects of pinacidil and cromakalim on vascular relaxation and sympathetic neurotransmission.

We tested the hypothesis that pinacidil and cromakalim acted at different sites to relax vascular smooth muscle, in vitro. We compared the effects of pinacidil and cromakalim on tension development in isolated canine and bovine pulmonary artery and vein and canine mesenteric artery and dorsal metatarsal vein, and on the pre- and post-synaptic responses of the canine blood vessels to transmural nerve stimulation. Both pinacidil and cromakalim relaxed bovine and canine blood vessels precontracted to 50% of maximal tension with U46619, prostaglandin F2 alpha, or norepinephrine. Pinacidil- and cromaklim-mediated relaxations of the blood vessels were not mediated by endothelium-derived factors, prostanoids, muscarinic receptors, beta-adrenoceptors, or Ca(2+)-activated or voltage-dependent K+ channels, since they were unaffected by endothelium-rubbing, indomethacin, L-NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, atropine, propranolol, and charybdotoxin. Glibenchlamide, an inhibitor of ATP-activated K+ channels (K+ATP), and KCl (25-60 mM) sufficient to minimize the role of K+ channels almost abolished cromakalim- but not pinacidil-induced relaxation of the blood vessels. Pinacidil inhibited the contractions of the dorsal metatarsal vein and mesenteric artery to norepinephrine and transmural nerve stimulation and the efflux of 2-[14C]norepinephrine during transmural nerve stimulation. In contrast, 1 and 10 nM cromakalim enhanced while 0.1 and 1 microM cromakalim inhibited the contractions of, and 2-[14C]norepinephrine efflux from, the mesenteric artery and dorsal metatarsal vein during transmural nerve stimulation. Thus, pinacidil and cromakalim relax smooth muscle by stimulation of K+ATP channels. Pinacidil also relaxes the blood vessels by a K+ channel independent mechanism. Pinacidil-induced relaxation may also result from presynaptic inhibition of norepinephrine release from the sympathetic neuron.

Animals↗

Investigation of the relaxant effects of pinacidil and cromakalim on the sheep sphincter of Oddi.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels play an important role in the regulation of smooth muscle membrane potential. This study was designed to investigate the effects of pinacidil and cromakalim, KATP-sensitive channel activators, on sheep sphincters of Oddi (SO). METHODS: SO rings were mounted in a tissue bath and tested for changes in isometric tension in response to pinacidil (10(-9)-10(-4)M) and cromakalim (10(-9)-10(-4)M) in the presence or absence of glibenclamide (10(-6)M), a blocker of KATP channels. Furthermore, concentration-dependent contraction responses of carbachol were obtained. RESULTS: Carbachol (10(-9)-10(-5)M) induced concentration-dependent contraction responses in the SO rings. Pinacidil (10(-9)-10(-4)M) and cromakalim (10(-9)-10(-4)M) induced concentration-dependent relaxation in isolated SO rings precontracted with carbachol (10(-6)M). At their maximum effects, both pinacidil and cromakalim produced nearly full relaxation. In the presence of glibenclamide, concentration-relaxation curves for pinacidil and cromakalim underwent rightward parallel shifts. There were no significant differences between pEC50 and E(max) values of pinacidil and cromakalim in the absence of glibenclamide (10(-6)M) (p > 0.05), but pEC(50) values of pinacidil and cromakalim in the presence of glibenclamide (10(-6)M) were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the relaxation caused in sheep SO by pinacidil and cromakalim is mediated through the same glibenclamide-sensitive KATP channel. Pinacidil and cromakalim have an equipotent relaxing effect in isolated sheep SO and they can be beneficial as alternative drugs for obtaining selective relaxation during SO manometry after controlled clinical studies.

Animals↗

Effect of pinacidil on spontaneous and evoked contractile activity.

Uninhibited bladder contractions have been associated with a variety of bladder dysfunctions including outlet obstruction, neurogenic bladder, incontinence, and other neurologic and nonneurogenic bladder disorders. One class of compounds that is gaining popularity and support for the treatment of hyperreflexia is potassium channel openers, such as pinacidil and cromakalim. In general, these agents act by hyperpolarizing the smooth muscle membrane, resulting in an increase in membrane stability which in turn would be expected to inhibit spontaneous and evoked contraction. It is the purpose of this study to compare the potency and selectivity of pinacidil at inhibiting both hyperreflexia in vivo, and several forms of in vitro contractile stimulation in the rabbit. The following is a summary of the results. (1) Pinacidil is an effective inhibitor of hyperreflexia in the in vivo rabbit model. (2) Pinacidil is a substantially more potent inhibitor of the amplitude of the hyperreflexia than the frequency. (3) Pinacidil was substantially more potent at inhibiting the contractile response to 2-Hz stimulation than to 32-Hz stimulation, but was equally effective at inhibiting field stimulation of the bladder base and body. (4) Pinacidil was significantly more potent at inhibiting the peak response to field stimulation than the rate of tension generation. (5) Pinacidil was equally potent and effective at inhibiting the phasic and tonic components of the response to field stimulation. (6) Pinacidil was a more potent inhibitor of methoxamine stimulation of the bladder base than bethanechol stimulation of the bladder body. (7) Pinacidil was a noncompetitive or mixed inhibitor of both methoxamine and bethanechol stimulation, whereas it was a competitive inhibitor of KCl stimulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Pinacidil-induced electrical heterogeneity and extrasystolic activity in canine ventricular tissues. Does activation of ATP-regulated potassium current promote phase 2 reentry?

BACKGROUND: Pinacidil is known to augment a time-independent outward current in cardiac tissues by activating the ATP-regulated potassium channels. Activation of this current, IK-ATP, is thought to be responsible for increased potassium permeability in ischemia. The contribution of IK-ATP activation to arrhythmogenesis and the role of activation of this current in suppression of arrhythmias are areas of great interest and debate. Because electrical depression attending myocardial ischemia is more accentuated in ventricular epicardium than in endocardium, we endeavored to contrast the effects of pinacidil-induced IK-ATP activation on the electrophysiology of canine ventricular epicardium and endocardium. METHODS AND RESULTS: Standard microelectrode techniques were used. Pinacidil (1 to 5 mumol/L) produced a marked dispersion of repolarization and refractoriness in isolated canine ventricular epicardium as well as between epicardium and endocardium. In endocardium, pinacidil abbreviated action potential duration (APD90) and refractoriness by 8.0 +/- 2.3%. In epicardium, the effects of pinacidil were nonhomogeneous. At some sites, pinacidil induced an all-or-none repolarization at the end of phase 1 of the action potential, resulting in 55.5 +/- 8.7% abbreviation of APD90 and refractoriness. Adjacent to these were sites at which the dome was maintained with only minor changes in APD and refractoriness. Extrasystolic activity displaying features of reentry was observed in isolated sheets of epicardium (63.2%) after exposure to pinacidil (1 to 5 mumol/L) but never in its absence. Dispersion of repolarization and ectopic activity was most readily induced in epicardium by a slowing of the stimulation rate in the presence of pinacidil. Electrical homogeneity was restored and arrhythmias abolished after washout of pinacidil or addition of either a transient outward current blocker, 4-aminopyridine, or a blocker of the ATP-regulated potassium channels, glybenclamide. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the activation of IK-ATP can produce a marked dispersion of repolarization and refractoriness in epicardium as well as between epicardium and endocardium, leading to the development of extrasystolic activity via a mechanism that we have called phase 2 reentry. The available data also suggest that blockade of the transient outward current and/or the ATP-regulated potassium channels may be useful antiarrhythmic interventions under ischemic or "ATP depleted" conditions.

Action Potentials↗

Stereoselective disposition and metabolism of pinacidil in rat.

1. An hplc method has been established for the determination of the enantiomer ratios of pinacidil and pinacidil-pyridine-N-oxide (M-1), using a beta-cyclodextrin-containing mobile phase. 2. Shortly after the administration of racemic pinacidil (2 mg/kg, i.v. or oral) to rat, the enantiomer ((+)/(-)) ratios of pinacidil in plasma were about 1 (i.v.) or > 1 (oral), whereas those of M-1 were < 1; both ratios increased with time. The (+)/(-) ratios of M-1 and pinacidil in 0.24 h urine samples were 0.65 (i.v.), 0.63 (oral), and 2.09 (i.v.), and 1.56 (oral), respectively, in male rat, and 0.76 (i.v.), 0.77 (oral) and 1.79 (i.v.), and 1.48 (oral), respectively, in female rat. 3. No isomerization of (+)- or (-)-pinacidil was observed during incubation with liver slices, and there was no stereoselectivity in the protein binding of the drug. An (-)-enantiomer-rich M-1, however, was produced after incubation of (+/-)-pinacidil with liver slices. The N-oxidation of (-)-pinacidil exhibited a higher stereoselectivity in males than females (the (+)/(-) ratio of M-1 in male, 0.55; female, 0.68). 4. These results indicated that the stereoselective disposition of pinacidil in rat was due, in large part, to the stereoselective N-oxidation of this drug in the liver.

Administration, Oral↗

Pinacidil-induced vascular relaxation: comparison to other vasodilators and to classical mechanisms of vasodilation.

Pinacidil is a potent antihypertensive agent in animals and humans. In conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats after oral administration, pinacidil was approximately 3- and 10-fold more potent than hydralazine and minoxidil, respectively. Likewise, under in vitro conditions, pinacidil (ED50 = 0.3 microM) was more potent in relaxing serotonin-contracted rat aortic strips than either minoxidil (ED50 = 0.1 mM) or hydralazine (ED50 = 0.2 mM). These data are consistent with the contention that pinacidil is a direct-acting vasodilator whereas minoxidil and hydralazine may be converted in vivo to active moieties and/or exert indirect effects more apparent under in vivo than in vitro conditions. The pharmacology of pinacidil appears unrelated to classical mechanism of vasodilation. Pinacidil does not interact with alpha, beta, cholinergic, or histaminergic receptors. Pinacidil does not produce vasodilation via an indirect effect mediated by adenosine, prostaglandin, or endothelial-derived relaxant factor (EDRF) release. Pinacidil does not alter cAMP or cGMP levels and, based on numerous approaches, does not resemble conventional calcium channel antagonists in its vasodilating activity. Thus, a review of the literature presented herein supports the contention that pinacidil-induced vascular relaxation is a direct effect mediated by a novel mechanism.

Animals↗

Clinical pharmacokinetics of pinacidil, a potassium channel opener, in hypertension.

Pinacidil is a potassium channel opener that decreases blood pressure by reducing peripheral arterial resistance. In two multicenter trials, we studied the concentrations and apparent clearance of pinacidil (406 patients) and concentrations of its pyridyl-N-oxide metabolite (147 patients). Responding patients had plasma samples collected hourly for 12 hours on 2 occasions after weeks to months of treatment. Pinacidil dose was titrated from 12.5 to 75 mg b.i.d. The peak concentration of pinacidil and N-oxide and the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) were proportional to the dose of pinacidil, with an average pinacidil concentration of 268 micrograms/L (1.02 microM) and N-oxide concentration of 172 micrograms/L (0.65 microM) for every 1 mg/kg pinacidil administered. Clearance of pinacidil (Clp = Dose/AUC) was 31 L/hr in patients younger than 45 years and 27 L/hr in those older than 60. Clp was significantly smaller in white patients compared with other races (Clp = 28 vs. 34 L/hr). Clp was significantly less in patients taking hydrochlorothiazide (27 vs. 31 L/hr) and greater in smokers (33 vs. 29 L/hr). Concomitant propranolol use did not influence Clp.

Adult↗

Antihypertensive efficacy of pinacidil--automatic ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Forty-three patients with mild essential hypertension were randomized into two double-blind studies: pinacidil vs. placebo or pinacidil vs. hydralazine. Pinacidil (62 +/- 18 mg/day) decreased office systolic and diastolic blood pressures from 145 to 137 mm Hg and from 98 to 89 mm Hg, respectively, after 6 weeks of therapy. Similarly, hydralazine (128 +/- 28 mg/day) reduced supine systolic blood pressure from 140 to 134 mm Hg and supine diastolic blood pressure from 93 mm Hg to 84 mm Hg. Significant tachycardia was not noted with either drug. Ambulatory blood pressure was monitored for 24 h during the placebo-washout and efficacy phases with both pinacidil and hydralazine. Mean 24-h blood pressure was 128 systolic and 81 diastolic with pinacidil and 121 systolic and 76 diastolic with hydralazine. Reduction in awake hypertensive diastolic blood pressure was significant for both pinacidil and hydralazine. Normal sleep diastolic blood pressure was not reduced by pinacidil but was reduced by hydralazine. Side-effects with both drugs included edema, headache, and palpitations. These data demonstrate that pinacidil is as effective an antihypertensive agent as hydralazine.

Adult↗

Reperfusion-induced arrhythmias and myocardial ion shifts: a pharmacologic interaction between pinacidil and cicletanine in isolated rat hearts.

Pinacidil is a member of the new antihypertensive drug family possessing an action that involves an increased potassium efflux in vascular and cardiac muscle. We investigated the contribution of opening of ATP-sensitive potassium channel to the development of reperfusion-induced arrhythmias and myocardial ion shifts, particularly that of Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ in isolated rat hearts. After 30 min of normothermic global ischemia, pinacidil with 1 to 60 mumol/l failed to reduce the incidence of reperfusion-induced arrhythmias, even on the postischemic/reperfused myocardium in a subset of hearts unresponsive to reperfusion-induced arrhythmias (the duration of ischemia was reduced to 25 min), pinacidil treatment was associated with a greater incidence of reperfusion-induced arrhythmias (100%) as compared to the control value (50%). These proarrhythmic effects of pinacidil were also reflected in a maldistribution of myocardial ion contents both in nonischemic and ischemic/reperfused hearts. Cicletanine, a furopyridine antihypertensive agent that has no effect on coronary resistance, reduced the incidence of reperfusion arrhythmias, and its antiarrhythmic effect was antagonized by pinacidil. The same observation was made in relation to myocardial ion content, e.g., pinacidil-induced K+ loss and Ca2+ gain were antagonized by cicletanine, both in nonischemic and ischemic/reperfused hearts. It is hypothesized that the increased tendency to develop reperfusion-induced ventricular fibrillation is associated with the pinacidil-induced K+ efflux. The present study does not attempt to address the question of specific ionic currents; however, it has been suggested that proarrhythmic and antiarrhythmic effects of pinacidil and cicletanine, respectively, may relate to same receptor sites in which the latter may reflect a specific blockade of the outward K+ ion current via ATP-sensitive K+ channels. If this is so, the use of K+ channel openers as antihypertensive agents may be of particular concern in that population of postinfarction patients who are known to be at high risk of sudden coronary death.

Animals↗

A comparison of the relaxant effects of pinacidil in rabbit renal and mesenteric artery.

1. The relaxant effects of pinacidil were compared in isolated rabbit renal and mesenteric artery. 2. Pinacidil (10 nm-300 microM) relaxed renal and mesenteric arterial rings precontracted with phenylephrine with pD2 values of 5.11 +/- 0.03 and 6.27 +/- 0.04, respectively. 3. The inhibitory effect of pinacidil on the rabbit mesenteric artery was competitively antagonized by glibenclamide (1-10 microM). The calculated pKB value was 6.37 +/- 0.04. On the renal artery, glibenclamide (2-20 microM) did not significantly affect pinacidil-induced relaxation (P > 0.05). 4. Tetraethylammonium (TEA, 1-10 mM) competitively antagonized the pincaidil induced relaxation of the rabbit renal artery. The pKB value was 3.22 +/- 0.08. On the mesenteric artery TEA antagonized the effect of pinacidil in a noncompetitive manner. 5. The concentration-response curves for pinacidil on the rabbit renal and mesenteric artery were not affected by apamin (0.1 microM). 6. It is concluded that ATP-sensitive K+ channels (KATP) are not involved in pinacidil action on the rabbit renal artery. On the contrary, KATP are probably major sites of pinacidil action on the rabbit mesenteric artery.

Animals↗

Pinacidil improves contractile function and intracellular calcium handling in isolated cardiac myocytes exposed to simulated cardioplegic arrest.

BACKGROUND: We examined the effects of pinacidil on contractile function and intracellular calcium in isolated rat cardiomyocytes exposed to cardioplegic solution. METHODS: Rat myocytes were incubated at 24 degrees C for 2 hours in cardioplegic solution with or without pinacidil (50 micromol/L), then they were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit solution with a gas phase of 95% O2/5% CO2 at the same temperature. Contraction and intracellular calcium transients were then measured by video tracking and spectrofluorometry. RESULTS: During 20 minutes of perfusion after 2 hours in cardioplegic solution with pinacidil, (1) the recovery of contractile function was significantly increased in terms of both amplitude of contraction (98.30% +/- 9.90% versus 81.00% +/- 11.25%; p < 0.05) and peak velocity of cell shortening (100.90% +/- 13.79% versus 76.89% +/- 18.14%; p < 0.01) when compared with myocytes in cardioplegic solution without pinacidil; (2) the amplitudes of the intracellular calcium transients evoked by electrical stimulation and caffeine (10 mmol/L) increased by 23.31% to approximately 40.72% and 61.73%, respectively, compared with those in cardioplegic solution without pinacidil; and (3) the decay time of the caffeine-induced intracellular calcium transient decreased by 36.64% +/- 15.10% relative to that measured in cardioplegic solution without pinacidil. The effects induced by supplementing the cardioplegic solution with pinacidil were diminished in the presence of glibenclamide (10 micromol/L). CONCLUSIONS: Addition of the adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium-channel opener, pinacidil, to a high potassium cardioplegic solution improves recovery of contractile properties and cytosolic calcium in isolated rat cardiac myocytes.

Animals↗

The attenuated effect of ATP-sensitive K+ channel opener pinacidil on renal haemodynamics in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

In hypertension, impairment of hyperpolarization by K+ efflux through ATP-sensitive K+ (K(ATP)) channels may contribute to the elevated renal vascular resistance. To elucidate such a role for K(ATP) channels in the renal vasculature, we used micropuncture techniques to examine the effect of K(ATP) channel opener, pinacidil (0.15 mg/h per kg body wt i.v.), on renal and glomerular haemodynamics in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and in normotensive controls (Wistar Kyoto, WKY). Since pinacidil reduced blood pressure significantly in both groups, the abdominal aorta was clamped before pinacidil administration to yield a renal perfusion pressure equivalent to that during pinacidil infusion. Pinacidil significantly decreased renal vascular resistance in both groups, but the relative change from baseline value was greater in WKY than in SHR. These effects of pinacidil were abolished by pretreatment with glibenclamide (3 mg/kg body wt i.v.). Proximal tubular stop-flow pressure (Psf), an index of glomerular capillary pressure, was significantly elevated by pinacidil infusion in WKY, a response abolished by pretreatment with glibenclamide, but not in SHR. The tubuloglomerular feedback response of Psf was not affected by pinacidil in either group. These data suggest that the activity of K(ATP) channels in SHR may be attenuated in the renal microvasculature. This may contribute to the elevated vascular tone in the renal preglomerular vasculature in SHR.

Animals↗

Effects of pinacidil and cromakalim (BRL 34915) on bladder function in rats with detrusor instability.

Normal rats as well as rats with bladder hypertrophy secondary to outflow obstruction were investigated cystometrically before and after administration of the potassium channel openers pinacidil or cromakalim one mg./kg. orally. In normal rats cromakalim decreased micturition pressure by 15 +/- 6%. A diminished micturition pressure was also seen after pinacidil (by 18 +/- 8%) but this did not achieve statistical significance. Further, no clear-cut effects on bladder capacity, residual volume, basal bladder pressure, threshold pressure, bladder compliance or on bladder wall tension were seen in this group of rats neither in the presence of pinacidil nor cromakalim. Rats with bladder hypertrophy exhibited a significant bladder instability during cystometrical investigations. The mean amplitude of the spontaneous bladder contraction exceeded 20 cm. H2O prior to micturition. Administration of pinacidil and cromakalin decreased the spontaneous contractions to 26 +/- 12% and 22 +/- 7%, respectively, of that seen in the absence of the drugs. Furthermore, pinacidil decreased micturition pressure by 61 +/- 12%. Also cromakalim decreased micturition pressure (by 27 +/- 13%) but this effect did not achieve statistical significance. After both pinacidil and cromakalim these rats tended to develop residual urine. In accordance with the results in normal rats pinacidil and cromakalim showed no effects on bladder capacity, basal bladder pressure, threshold pressure, bladder compliance or on bladder wall tension in rats with bladder hypertrophy. The findings of an almost complete disappearance of spontaneous bladder contractions in rats with bladder instability and a remaining voiding ability after administration of pinacidil or cromakalim suggest that potassium channel openers may be a therapeutic alternative in the treatment of bladder instability associated with outflow obstruction.

Animals↗

Hemodynamic and myocardial blood flow. Profiles of pinacidil and nitroprusside in conscious dogs.

Vasodilator antihypertensive agents can induce endocardial underperfusion relative to myocardial metabolic demand in normal hearts. We studied ten conscious normotensive dogs, paced at constant heart rate, to determine the relative probabilities of inducing endocardial ischemia with intravenous sodium nitroprusside or pinacidil, a novel antihypertensive agent. On different days, pinacidil and nitroprusside were infused in each animal to achieve mean aortic pressures (MAP) of 83 +/- 0.2 mm Hg and 62 +/- 1 mm Hg, reduced from control pressures of 106 +/- 3 mm Hg (pinacidil) and 107 +/- 3 mm Hg (nitroprusside). At MAP = 62 mm Hg, pinacidil depressed the left ventricular endocardial:epicardial blood flow (0.81 +/- 0.03) more than did nitroprusside (1.00 +/- 0.06, P less than .01). However, pinacidil increased left ventricular blood flow in all transmural layers at both levels of hypotension (P less than .05); nitroprusside increased only epicardial blood flow at MAP = 62 mm Hg (P less than .05). Neither vasodilator significantly altered myocardial oxygen consumption at either level of hypotension. At MAP = 83 mm Hg, pinacidil depressed the ratio of left ventricular vascular resistance and systemic vascular resistance indices (LVVRI/SVRI) 40 +/- 6 percent (P less than .001) to a level below that existing during nitroprusside infusion (P less than .05). These data indicate that pinacidil has greater selectivity for the coronary circulation over the systemic circulation compared to nitroprusside. Although it is unlikely that either drug caused endocardial ischemia in the present study, the data suggest that pinacidil is less likely to do so than is nitroprusside in normal hearts.

Animals↗

Inhibition of pinacidil induced IK(ATP) in heart by changes in extracellular pH.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to determine whether extracellular protons influence the activation of ATP sensitive potassium channels (KATP) in heart by the drug pinacidil. METHODS: Single channel and whole cell currents were measured in enzymatically dispersed guinea pig ventricular myocytes with patch clamp procedures. ATP sensitive potassium channel activity was induced by pinacidil in whole cell experiments and either by lowering cytoplasmic ATP or pinacidil in membrane patch experiments. RESULTS: Extracellular acidification inhibited and extracellular alkalisation potentiated ATP sensitive potassium channel currents (IK(ATP)) induced by pinacidil under whole cell conditions. In membrane patches, IK(ATP) induced by low cytoplasmic ATP (1 mM) was not sensitive to changes in extracellular pH, but IK(ATP) induced by cytoplasmic application of pinacidil was inhibited by extracellular acidification. CONCLUSIONS: Interactions between protons and pinacidil drug molecules underlie the pH dependent changes in IK(ATP) induced by pinacidil. Based on the kinetics of pH dependent changes in pinacidil induced channel activity in inside-out membrane patches, our data suggest that the important inhibitory site of action of this drug is located on the extracellular side of the cell membrane.

Action Potentials↗

Isoflurane sensitizes the cardiac sarcolemmal adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channel to pinacidil.

BACKGROUND: Cardioprotective effects of isoflurane are partially mediated by the sarcolemmal adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium (sarcK ATP ) channel. The authors tested the hypothesis that isoflurane sensitizes sarcK ATP channels to a potassium channel opener, pinacidil, adenosine- and phospholipid-mediated pathways. METHODS: Activation by pinacidil of the K ATP current (I KATP ) was monitored in guinea pig ventricular myocytes at 0.5 and 5 mm intracellular ATP in the whole cell configuration of the patch clamp technique. The sensitization effect was evaluated by pretreating each myocyte with isoflurane (0.57 +/- 0.04 mm) before application of pinacidil (5 micro m) in the continued presence of the anesthetic. To investigate whether intracellular signaling pathways may be involved in isoflurane sensitization, the authors used the adenosine receptor antagonist theophylline (100 micro m) and the phosphatidylinositol kinase inhibitor wortmannin (100 micro m). RESULTS: The density of pinacidil-activated I KATP was higher at 0.5 mm ATP (20.7 +/- 3.2 pA/pF) than at 5 mm ATP (2.0 +/- 0.3 pA/pF). At 0.5 mm ATP, pretreatment with isoflurane caused an increase in density of pinacidil-activated I KATP (42.4 +/- 6.2 pA/pF) and accelerated the rate of current activation (from 5.4 +/- 1.2 to 39.0 +/- 7.9 pA. pF(-1). min(-1) ). Theophylline attenuated current activation by pinacidil (9.4 +/- 3.9 pA/pF) and abolished the sensitization effect of isoflurane on I KATP (10.0 +/- 2.5 pA/pF). Wortmannin did not alter pinacidil activation of I KATP (13.2 +/- 1.7 pA/pF) but prevented sensitization by isoflurane (15.8 +/- 4.5 pA/pF). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that isoflurane increases sensitivity of cardiac sarcK ATP channels to the potassium channel opener pinacidil. Blockade of adenosine receptors or phosphatidylinositol kinases abolishes the sensitization effect, suggesting that the adenosine and phospholipid signaling pathways may be involved in the actions by isoflurane.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗