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PubMed1989

Development of desensitization during repetitive end-plate activity and single end-plate currents in frog muscle.

1. The amplitudes of end-plate currents (EPCs) in short trains of fifteen to seventeen EPCs at 10 Hz were depressed in the presence of 10 microM-proadifen when acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was inhibited. 2. The proadifen-induced EPC depression was voltage-dependent and the effect was more pronounced at negative membrane potentials. 3. In the presence of proadifen, the mean amplitude of miniature end-plate currents (MEPCs) was reduced by 36% 5 s after the EPC train as compared with MEPCs before the train. 4. Without proadifen, but with inhibited AChE, an increase of temperature from 20 to 26 degrees C and elevation of external Ca2+ from 1.8 to 2.5 mM led to EPC amplitude depression in the train, which was also potential-dependent. 5. After AChE inhibition, proadifen (10 microM) progressively shortened MEPC decay without significant reduction of amplitude up to 40 min of exposition. MEPCs were not affected by proadifen when AChE was active. 6. It is concluded that these postsynaptic effects of proadifen can be explained neither by its action on the resting acetylcholine receptors (AChR) nor on open ion channels but are due to its desensitization-promoting action.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Effects of cytochrome P450 inhibitors on potassium currents and mechanical activity in rat portal vein.

1. The effects of the cytochrome P450 inhibitors, proadifen, clotrimazole and 17-octadecynoic acid (17-ODYA) on K-currents in freshly-isolated single cells derived from rat portal vein and on mechanical activity in whole veins were studied. 2. When cells were stepped from -90 mV to a series of test potentials (from -80 to +50 mV), a delayed rectifier current (IK(V)) and an A-type current (IK(A)) could be identified. Proadifen (10 microM), clotrimazole (30 microM) and 17-ODYA (5 microM) each inhibited IK(V) but had little effect on IK(A). 3. When cells were held at -10 mV to inactivate the time-dependent K-currents, IK(V) and IK(A), levcromakalim (3 microM) induced a time-independent outward K-current (IK(ATP)) which was totally inhibited by clotrimazole (30 microM) and almost fully inhibited by proadifen (10 microM). 17-ODYA (5 microM) had no effect on IK(ATP) and exerted only a minor inhibitory action on this current at 20 microM. 4. 17-ODYA (5 microM) potentiated current flow through the large conductance, Ca-sensitive K-channel (BKCa). In contrast, proadifen (10 microM) had no effect on IBK(Ca) whereas clotrimazole (30 microM) exerted a small but significant inhibitory action. 5. Proadifen (10 microM) and clotrimazole (30 microM) each inhibited the magnitude but increased the frequency of spontaneous contractions in whole portal veins. 17-ODYA (5 microM) had no effect on spontaneous contractions but these were inhibited when the concentration of 17-ODYA was increased to 50 microM. 6. The spasmolytic effect of levcromakalim on spontaneous contractions was antagonized by proadifen (10-30 microM) in a concentration-dependent manner but 17-ODYA (up to 50 microM) was without effect. 7. These results in portal vein show that cytochrome P450 inhibitors exert profound effects on a variety of K-channel subtypes. This suggests that enzymes dependent on this cofactor may be important regulators of K-channel activity in smooth muscle. The relevance of these findings for the identification of the pathway involved in the synthesis of the endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Further studies on the high-affinity binding of 3H-alaproclate to membranes from rat liver and some other tissues.

The high affinity binding of 3H-alaproclate to membranes in liver homogenates from naive rats and those treated with phenobarbital sodium, 75 mg/kg intraperitoneally, alaproclate hydrochloride, 40 mg/kg intraperitoneally proadifen hydrochloride, 40 mg/kg intraperitoneally once daily for 7 days and killed 24 hr after the last injection was examined. The treatment increased the normal number of alaproclate binding sites (Bmax: 1.1 nmol/g tissue, KD: 0.6 nM) by factors of about 10, 4 and 6, respectively. About 80% of the binding was localized to the microsomal fraction in both normal and phenobarbital treated rats. Ninety % of the alaproclate displaceable binding in a microsomal preparation of the normal liver was inhibited by low (nM) concentrations of proadifen whereas only about 20% in the liver preparations from phenobarbital treated rats was inhibited by low concentrations of proadifen. Thus, the main part of the induced binding sites was insensitive to proadifen. The same was found for the alaproclate and proadifen-induced alaproclate binding sites. The stereoselectivity of alaproclate enantiomers for binding to the normal and the induced binding sites was different: the S-(-) form was 100 times more potent than the R-(+)- enantiomer in inhibiting binding of racemic alaproclate to the normal sites, whereas the latter form was 3 times more potent than the former in inhibiting the binding to the phenobarbital-induced proadifen insensitive binding sites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1985

The role of trazodone metabolism in its inhibitory action on avoidance response.

To assess the role of trazodone metabolism in its depressant action on conditioned avoidance response we investigated whether in the mouse brain 3-chlorophenylpiperazine (CPP) is formed from trazodone, whether trazodone metabolism is affected by a drug metabolism inhibitor, proadifen, and how trazodone, CPP and their combinations act on avoidance responses in proadifen-pretreated mice. It was found that CPP is formed from trazodone in mice, that proadifen inhibits trazodone metabolism, and that the moderate and transient inhibitory effect of trazodone on avoidance responses is dramatically potentiated and prolonged in proadifen-pretreated mice. This effect, and inhibition of unconditioned escape response observed in mice receiving lower doses of trazodone after proadifen pretreatment, were counteracted by CPP. The results indicate that the inhibitory action of trazodone on avoidance response is caused by the parent compound, and that it is brief and moderate because of the rapid metabolism of the drug with formation of CPP which counteracts the depressant effect of the parent compound.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Effects of drugs and sterols on cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity in rat liver microsomes.

This study examined the effects of various drugs and sterols on the rate of 7alpha-hydroxycholesterol synthesis in isolated rat liver microsomes. Cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase activity was significantly inhibited by proadifen (98%), metyrapone (67%), and aminoglutethimide (45%) at concentrations of 1 mM and by ascorbic acid (40%) at a concentration of 10 mM. Cimetidine had no significant effect. The activity of cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase was also significantly inhibited by 7beta-hydroxycholesterol (38%) and 7-ketocholesterol (35%) at concentrations of 1 micro M, and by 10 micro M 7alpha-hydroxycholesterol (35%), 25alpha-hydroxycholesterol (32%), and 5-cholenic acid-3beta-ol (27%). Two bile acids, cholate and lithocholate, as well as a geometric isomer of cholesterol, coprostanol, had little influence on 7alpha-hydroxylase activity at concentrations of 10 micro M. The inhibitory effect of metyrapone was additive with that of either 7beta-hydroxycholesterol or proadifen; the effects of 7beta-hydroxycholesterol and proadifen were not additive. These results suggest that proadifen and 7beta-hydroxycholesterol interact with the same enzyme site while metyrapone binds at a different location. Proadifen inhibited 7alpha-hydroxylase irreversibly, while kinetic studies demonstrated noncompetitive inhibition by metyrapone (K(I) = 0.55 mM) and competitive inhibition by 7beta-hydroxycholesterol (K(I) = 2.4 micro M). The inhibition of 7alpha-hydroxylase activity by metyrapone and aminoglutethimide, drugs used to manage patients with excessive cortisol production, suggests that such treatment may also alter bile acid synthesis.-Schwartz, M. A., and S. Margolis. Effects of drugs and sterols on cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase activity in rat liver microsomes.

Aminoglutethimide↗
PubMed1987

Stereoselective high-affinity binding of 3H-alaproclate to membranes from rat cerebral cortex.

The binding of 3H-alaproclate, a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine uptake inhibitor, to membranes prepared from the rat cerebral cortex was investigated by a filtration technique. It was found that 3H-alaproclate bound with high affinity to three or four different sites and to one low affinity site. The binding to two of these sites was displaceable by 1 microM proadifen (SKF 525A), an inhibitor of drug metabolism. From iterative nonlinear regression analysis the KD-values of these sites were calculated to about 1 and 28 nM and the Bmax values 1.5 and 19 pmol/g wet tissue, respectively. The high affinity binding that was not displaceable by proadifen but by 10 microM alaproclate had KD-values of 1 nM and 6 nM and Bmax-values of 0.4 and 2 pmol/g wet tissue. The low affinity binding that was not displaceable by proadifen had a KD-value of about 200 nM and a Bmax-value of about 90 pmol/g tissue. The possible relationship between the proadifen sensitive high affinity binding of 3H-alaproclate and the brain cytochrome P-450 is discussed.

Alanine↗
PubMed1997

Nitric oxide-independent dilation of conductance coronary arteries to acetylcholine in conscious dogs.

NO and prostacyclin formation cannot entirely account for receptor-operated endothelium-dependent dilation of coronary vessels, since vasodilator responses are not completely suppressed by inhibitors of these agents. Therefore, we considered that another factor, such as an endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor described in vitro, may participate in NO- and prostacyclin-independent coronary dilator responses. In conscious instrumented dogs, intracoronary acetylcholine (ACh, 30.0 ng.kg-1.min-1) increased the external epicardial coronary diameter (CD) by 0.18 +/- 0.03 mm (from 3.44 +/- 0.11 mm) when increases in coronary blood flow (CBF) were prevented and increased the CD by 0.20 +/- 0.05 when CBF was allowed to increase. After the administration of intracoronary N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), CBF responses to ACh were abolished, but CD responses (0.23 +/- 0.05 from 3.22 +/- 0.09 mm) were maintained. Blockade of NO formation was confirmed by reduced CD baselines and blunted flow-dependent CD responses caused by adenosine and transient coronary artery occlusions after L-NAME administration. ACh-induced CD increases resistant to L-NAME and indomethacin were reduced after the administration of intracoronary quinacrine, an inhibitor of phospholipase A2, or proadifen, an inhibitor of cytochrome P-450. Quinacrine or proadifen alone (without L-NAME) did not alter CD responses to ACh, but L-NAME given after proadifen blunted ACh-induced increases in CD. The increases in CD caused by arachidonic acid given after L-NAME + indomethacin were antagonized by proadifen but not altered by quinacrine. Thus, a cytochrome P-450 metabolite of arachidonic acid accounts for L-NAME-resistant and indomethacin-resistant dilation of large epicardial coronary arteries to ACh. Conversely, NO formation is the dominant mechanism of ACh-induced dilation after blockade of the cytochrome P-450 pathway.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1984

Desensitization of membrane-bound Torpedo acetylcholine receptor by amine noncompetitive antagonists and aliphatic alcohols: studies of [3H]acetylcholine binding and 22Na+ ion fluxes.

Measurements of the kinetics of binding of [3H]acetylcholine ([3H]AcCh) to membrane-bound nicotinic AcCh receptors from Torpedo electric tissue have been used to characterize the effects of a series of amine and alcohol noncompetitive antagonists on receptor conformational equilibria. The receptor exists in multiple, interconvertible conformations distinguished by agonist binding affinity. In the absence of cholinergic ligands, certain aromatic amines including proadifen, dimethisoquin, and lidocaine, as well as propanol and butanol, produce a dose-dependent increase in the fraction of receptors (f) in a high-affinity conformation from a value of fmax approximately 0.17 in the absence of drug to fmax approximately 0.9. Not all noncompetitive antagonists produce that same value of fmax. For histrionicotoxin (HTX), fmax approximately 0.3, and the aromatic amine adiphenine did not alter f while tetracaine actually decreased f to 0.1. The high-affinity receptor conformation stabilized by noncompetitive antagonists was characterized by (1) the rate constant (krec) for receptor reisomerization upon removal of stabilizing ligand and (2) the rate constant (kdis) for dissociation of [3H]AcCh-receptor complexes. On the basis of these criteria, the high-affinity receptor conformation stabilized by amine and alcohol noncompetitive blockers is the same as that stabilized by agonist. At 4 degrees C, krec = (2.2 +/- 0.2) X 10(-3) s-1 and kdis = 4 X 10(-2) s-1. Since HTX and adiphenine produced only a small conformational perturbation, their effects on the actions of proadifen and 2-propanol were examined. HTX and adiphenine antagonized the conformational perturbation caused by proadifen, while mixtures of HTX and 2-propanol produced additive effects. Effects of noncompetitive blockers were also assayed in terms of the inhibition of agonist-induced efflux of 22Na+ from Torpedo vesicles. Exposure to proadifen in the absence of agonist produced a reversible inhibition (desensitization) of the flux response, and recovery from desensitization occurred at the same rate as the reisomerization from the high-affinity receptor state.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1978

Effect of enzyme-inducing and enzyme-inhibiting agents on drug absorption I: 3-O-methylglucose transport in rats.

The influence of preadministration of phenobarbital, benzo[alpha]pyrene, and proadifen hydrochloride on 3-O-methylglucose transfer across the everted rat small intestine was examined. The active and passive components of the sugar transport mechanism were evaluated using phlorizin, a potent inhibitor of active transport of sugars. Pretreatment of the animals with phenobarbital did not alter 3-O-methylglucose transfer characteristics. Pretreatment with intraperitoneally administered benzo[alpha]pyrene increased mucosal to serosal transfer of the sugar low (0.1 mM) sugar concentrations. Enhancement of the active transfer of 3-O-methylglucose by pretreatment with proadifen hydrochloride was noted at low sugar concentrations. The passive transfer of the sugar was reduced after pretreatment with proadifen hydrochloride.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

The reversible MAO inhibitor, brofaromine, inhibits serotonin uptake in vivo.

The inhibition of the binding of [3H]cyanoimipramine in the rat brain in vivo, with and without pretreatment with proadifen (SK & F 525 A) to prevent its metabolism, has recently been shown to reflect inhibition of 5-HT uptake. This method has been suggested to be more sensitive than other more indirect methods. We have used this method to study the reversible MAO-A inhibitor, brofaromine, which has been shown previously to inhibit 5-HT uptake into synaptosomal preparations in vitro and ex vivo at doses about 30 times higher than those that inhibited MAO-A, and a number of 5-HT uptake inhibitors. The effects of orally administered clomipramine, imipramine, citalopram, CGP 6085 A, fluoxetine and brofaromine on [3H]cyanoimipramine binding were similar to those obtained in the synaptosome ex vivo model in the absence of proadifen; ifoxetine seemed to be more potent in inhibiting [3H]cyanoimipramine binding. The effects of clomipramine, imipramine, citalopram and ifoxetine were moderately to markedly enhanced by proadifen, indicating a first-pass effect. The effect of brofaromine on [3H]cyanoimipramine binding showed a time course similar to that on MAO-A, and was not altered upon repeated treatment. The inactivity of another MAO-A inhibitor, moclobemide, suggest that the effect of brofaromine was due to true inhibition of 5-HT uptake and not to displacement of [3H]cyanoimipramine by elevated synaptic 5-HT. The possible role of inhibition of 5-HT uptake in the antidepressant effect of brofaromine is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Comparative behavioural profiles of buspirone and its metabolite 1-(2-pyrimidinyl)-piperazine (1-PP) in the murine elevated plus-maze.

It has been suggested that in vivo formation of the metabolite 1-(2-pyrimidinyl)-piperazine (1-PP) may be a major drawback in the use of buspirone as an anti-anxiety agent. To test this hypothesis, the effects of buspirone, alone or with proadifen (an inhibitor of liver microsomal enzymes) pretreatment, were contrasted with those of 1-PP in the murine elevated plus-maze test of anxiety. At 3.0 mg/kg (but not lower doses), buspirone per se had modest anxiolytic-like effects (increased percentage of open arm entries; reduced stretched-attend postures and flatback approach) that were associated with increased grooming and immobility. However, in proadifen-pretreated mice, buspirone produced behavioural depression only, with marked effects evident both at 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg. As proadifen blocks the biotransformation of buspirone to 1-PP, these data suggest that any anxiolytic activity of buspirone in the murine plus-maze may be attributable to its principal active metabolite. Consistent with this hypothesis, 1-PP (0.5-13.5 mg/kg) produced dose-dependent anti-anxiety effects on both conventional and ethological measures that were not confounded by motoric impairment. Results are discussed in relation to biochemical and electrophysiological studies suggesting that 1-PP has a direct action at 5-HT1A receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

The role of desensitisation in decay time of miniature endplate currents in frogs Rana ridibunda and Rana temporaria.

A new comparative characteristic of endplate microphysiology has been introduced. It is the feasibility of receptors to become desensitised as demonstrated on two frog species, Rana temporaria and Rana ridibunda: the decay times (tau(MEPC)) of single quantum miniature endplate currents (MEPCs) in the sartorius muscles of both species were about 1 ms and were not affected by the desensitisation-promoting agent proadifen when AChE was active. However, when the desensitisation was induced by anticholinesterase neostigmine and promoted by proadifen, the prolongation of tau(MEPC) from 1 ms was almost twice as great in Rana temporaria (tau(MEPC) = 4.4 ms) than in Rana ridibunda (tau(MEPC) = 3.1). This indicates that desensitisation reduces the number of available receptors and lowers the number of available ACh molecules for repetitive binding by trapping them by desensitised, high-affinity receptors significantly more in Rana ridibunda than in Rana temporaria. The application of proadifen, a promoter of desensitisation, decreased the prolongation of MEPCs in both species, but this shortening was more rapid in Rana ridibunda than in Rana temporaria. It is concluded that the desensitisation-induced reduction in the density, and the number of postsynaptic receptors is significantly higher at Rana ridibunda than in Rana temporaria endplates.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Distinctions in agonist and antagonist specificity conferred by anionic residues of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

Two anionic residues in the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, Asp-152 in the alpha-subunit and Asp-174 in the gamma-subunit or the corresponding Asp-180 in the delta-subunit, are presumed to reside near the two agonist binding sites at the alphagamma and alphadelta subunit interfaces of the receptor and have been implicated in electrostatic attraction of cationic ligands. Through site-directed mutagenesis and analysis of state changes in the receptor elicited by agonists, we have distinguished the roles of anionic residues in conferring ligand specificity and ligand-induced state changes. alphaAsp-152 affects agonist and antagonist affinity similarly, whereas gammaAsp-174 and deltaAsp-180 primarily affect agonist affinity. Combining charge neutralization on the alpha subunit with that on the gamma and delta subunits shows an additivity in free energy changes for carbamylcholine and d-tubocurarine, suggesting independent contributions of these residues to stabilizing the bound ligands. Since both aromatic and anionic residues stabilize cationic ligands, we substituted tyrosines (Y) for the aspartyl residues. While the substitution, alphaD152Y, reduced the affinities for agonists and antagonists, the gammaD174Y/deltaD180Y mutations reduced the affinity for agonist binding, but surprisingly enhanced the affinity for d-tubocurarine. To ascertain whether selective changes in agonist binding stem from the capacity of agonists to form the desensitized state of the receptor, carbamylcholine binding was measured in the presence of an allosteric inhibitor, proadifen. Mutant nAChRs carrying alphaD152Q or gammaD174N/deltaD180N show similar reductions in dissociation constants for the desensitized compared with activable receptor state and a similar proadifen concentration dependence. Hence, these mutations influence ligand recognition rather than the capacity of the receptor to desensitize. By contrast, the alphaD200Q mutation diminishes the ratio of dissociation constants for two states and requires higher proadifen concentrations to induce desensitization. Thus, the contributions of alphaAsp-152, gamma/deltaAsp-174/180, and alphaAsp-200 in stabilizing ligand binding can be distinguished by the interactions between agonists and allosteric inhibitors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Defining the active site of cytochrome P-450: the crystal and molecular structure of an inhibitor, SKF-525A.

The crystal and molecular structure of the cytochrome P-450 inhibitor, SKF-525A [2-(diethylamino)ethyl 2,2-diphenylpentenoate; proadifen hydrochloride] is described. Proadifen hydrochloride crystallized from an ethyl acetate and acetic acid mixture in the space group P2(1)/c with one molecule in the asymmetric unit. Cell constants are a = 18.716(4), b = 8.906(1), c = 14.201(3), beta = 109.41(1) degrees. The structure was solved using direct methods and was refined to an R value of 0.047; weighted R of 0.061 using 3757 reflections. From the crystal and molecular structure, it is seen that SKF-525A has two principal modes of complementary interactions with the enzyme available: polar and non-polar. Polar interactions that principally involve the chloride anion, the quaternary nitrogen atom and the carbonyl oxygen atom. In particular, there are two strong hydrogen bonds, one between Cl ... H-N, 3.090(1) A, the other between O2 ... H-C111 (one of the ethyl hydrogen atoms) at 3.411(2) A. The other is through non-polar interactions involving the phenyl and alkyl groups. Comparisons between proadifen hydrochloride and other inhibitors whose atomic coordinates are available reveal common features which correlate with their function. These include groups to provide necessary intermolecular contacts and bulk, such as a phenyl group and a hydrogen bond acceptor, as well as a tetrahedral atom, which allows for substrate flexibility.

Crystallization↗
PubMed1997

Influence of cytochrome P-450 inhibitors on endothelium-dependent nitro-L-arginine-resistant relaxation and cromakalim-induced relaxation in rat mesenteric arteries.

In several blood vessels, endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation is in part mediated by an endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF), the nature of which is as yet unknown. However, some evidence suggests that EDHF might be a cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase metabolite of arachidonic acid. By using isometric tension measurements on rat main mesenteric arteries, the influence of four structurally and mechanistically different cytochrome P-450 inhibitors (proadifen, miconazole, 1-amino-benzotriazole, and 17-octadecynoic acid) was investigated on relaxations elicited by EDHF, assessed as the nitro-L-arginine-resistant component of acetylcholine-induced relaxation, and on relaxations provoked by the endothelium-independent potassium channel opener cromakalim. Proadifen (30 microM) inhibited the EDHF- as well as the cromakalim-induced relaxation, but not that elicited by nitroprusside. Also miconazole (30 microM) inhibited both the EDHF and the cromakalim-induced relaxation. On the other hand, 17-octadecynoic acid (5 microM) had no influence, and 1-aminobenzotriazole (1 mM) even potentiated EDHF- and cromakalim-induced relaxations. We conclude that the EDHF, released from the rat mesenteric artery by acetylcholine, is unlikely to be a cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase metabolite of arachidonic acid and that proadifen and miconazole interfere with the action of cromakalim.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1990

Rat duodenal smooth muscle contractile responses to angiotensin II are dependent on calmodulin.

1. Isolated duodenal segments were pretreated with either of the calmodulin inhibitors proadifen or trifluoroperazine and the subsequent contractile force and frequency response to angiotensin II monitored. 2. Both proadifen and trifluoroperazine decreased the spontaneous contractile force and frequency in isolated perfused duodenal segments and attenuated the force generation following exposure to angiotensin II. Proadifen and trifluoroperazine also altered the qualitative behaviour of duodenal segments. 3. These results suggest that the action of angiotensin II on duodenal smooth muscle motility is dependent on calmodulin. Furthermore, the change in qualitative behaviour of duodenal segments following treatment with calmodulin inhibitors suggest that the function of intrinsic intestinal neurons is also altered.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed1997

Desensitization shortens the high-quantal-content endplate current time course in frog muscle with intact cholinesterase.

1. The desensitization induced by bath-applied carbachol or acetylcholine (ACh) and potentiated by proadifen (SKF 525A) was studied in the frog sartorius with intact synaptic acetylcholinesterase (AChE). 2. The reduction in the density and number of postsynaptic receptors produced by desensitization lowered the amplitude of the endplate currents (EPCs) and shortened the EPC decay when the quantal content (m) of the EPC was about 170 and when multiple release of quanta at single active zones was highly probably. The shortening of high-quantal-content EPCs persisted for at least 15 min after the wash-out of agonists, at a time when the amplitude had recovered fully. 3. The decay times of the low-quantal-content EPCs recorded from preparations pretreated with 5 mM Mg2+ (m approximately 70) and single-quantum miniature endplate currents (MEPCs) were not affected by carbachol, ACh or proadifen. 4. The desensitization of ACh receptors potentiated by proadifen, prevented completely the 6- to 8-fold prolongation of EPC which was induced by neostigmine inhibition of synaptic AChE. 5. It is assumed that high-quantal-content EPCs increase the incidence of multiple quanta release at single active zones and the probability of repetitive binding of ACh molecules which leads to EPC prolongation. The shortening which persists after complete recovery of the amplitude during wash-out of the exogenous agonist is probably due to 'trapping' of ACh molecules onto rapidly desensitized receptors and the reduced density of functional AChRs during the quantum action.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed2000

Inhibition of the cytochrome P-450 modulates all-trans-retinoic acid-induced differentiation and apoptosis of HL-60 cells.

We studied the effects of inhibition of cytochrome P-450 by proadifen (SKF525A) on the processes induced in myeloid leukemia HL-60 cells by all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). The parameters reflecting cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry as the principal method at selected time intervals (24-96 hours). Changes in the expression of Bcl-2 protein were detected by Western blotting. The majority of experiments were designed as a factorial combination of the treatment and assessed for significance of the interactions. Proadifen was demonstrated synergistically (1) to potentiate the antiproliferative and differentiation effects of ATRA, and (2) to increase cell viability and prevent ATRA-induced apoptosis. Moreover, proadifen weakened ATRA-induced downregulation of the Bcl-2 protein. Our results may be of practical importance because cytochrome P-450 inhibitors are used clinically in treating cancer patients. Assuming that effects on the leukemic cells in vivo would be similar, this type of combined therapy could help to achieve better results even with lower doses of ATRA.

Analysis of Variance↗