Effect of Desmodium adscendens fractions on antigen- and arachidonic acid-induced contractions of guinea pig airways

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 820-825 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marian E. Addy ◽  
John F. Burka
Keyword(s):  
Arachidonic Acid ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Guinea Pig ◽  
Muscle Contraction ◽  
Aqueous Extract ◽  
Contractile Response ◽  
Late Phase ◽  
Smooth Muscle Contraction ◽  
Pharmacologically Active ◽  
Active Substances

Three fractions (n-butanol, F2, and L5), isolated from an aqueous extract of Desmodium adscendens, a plant used in Ghana for the management of asthma, were evaluated for their pharmacological activity using ovalbumin and arachidonic acid-induced contractions of guinea pig airways. All three fractions inhibited the ovalbumin-induced contractions of indomethacin-pretreated tracheal spirals from sensitized animals dose dependently, but only L5 and n-butanol inhibited such contractions in the absence of indomethacin. The concentrations required to inhibit ovalbumin-induced contractions of lung parenchymal strips were threefold higher than with trachea. The contractile response over a 60-min period was divided into three phases. F2 and n-butanol inhibited all phases, whereas L5 inhibited only the late phase. n-Butanol and L5 inhibited arachidonic acid-induced contractions on indomethacin-pretreated tracheal spirals, a leukotriene-dependent reaction. There was no inhibition of arachidonic acid-induced contractions of lung parenchymal strips, which is largely a thromboxane-dependent reaction. The results suggest that D. adscendens contains several pharmacologically active substances that can inhibit allergic airway smooth muscle contraction at multiple sites, including the synthesis and (or) activity of the bronchoconstrictor leukotrienes.

scholarly journals Efeito do hexametônio sobre a contratilidade de músculo liso de cobaios provocada pelo extrato aquoso do fungo Ramaria Flavo Brunnescens

1986 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 67
Author(s):  
Ana Maria Chagas ◽  
Zuleica Tabarelli ◽  
Ruben Boelter ◽  
Lisandre Kipper ◽  
Rejane Mello Flores ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Guinea Pig ◽  
Muscle Contraction ◽  
Aqueous Extract ◽  
Smooth Muscle Contraction ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Guinea Pig Ileum ◽  
Strain Transducer ◽  
Fungus Extract ◽  
The Difference

Animals poisoning by ingestion of Ramaria flava brunnescens fungus found in Eucalipto groves is common in Southern Brazil. This poisoning does not have an effective antidote yet and it is common to avoid the toxicity by removing the animals from these fields or by using atropin when fungus intoxication signals appear. Present work was reallized to elucidate the manner and place of action of this fungus aqueous extract on isolated guinea pig ileum. For this purpose, we used Magnus Bath and strain transducer to Physiograph connect. Experiences were realized with 18 ileum tested with 10 mcg Nicotine. 24.600 mcg Ramaria flavo brunnescens fungus' aqueous extract and 30 mcg Hexametonium. Those concentrations were choosen from pilot experiences. The results showed that uses of this fungus extract provokes smooth muscle contraction similar to that of nicotin, the difference between both occurs due to Hexametone blockade impossibility. This fact suggests that the death mechanism of animals that eat this fungus is not due to ganglionar stimulation.

α-Adrenoceptor agonists and the Ca2+-dependence of smooth muscle contraction: evidence for subtypes of receptors or for agonist-dependent differences in the agonist-receptor interaction?

1985 ◽  
Vol 68 (s10) ◽  
pp. 55s-63s ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. McGrath
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Muscle Contraction ◽  
Continuous Spectrum ◽  
Contractile Response ◽  
Nitrilotriacetic Acid ◽  
Smooth Muscle Contraction ◽  
Receptor Type ◽  
Receptor Interaction ◽  
Initial Transient ◽  
Adrenoceptor Agonists

1. The effects of varying [Ca2+]o on the contraction of smooth muscle by different α-adrenoceptor agonists were examined on rat isolated anococcygeus muscle. Agonists were tested in the presence of various [Ca2+]o or ‘Ca2+-re-addition curves’ were constructed. In some experiments the [Ca2+]free was buffered with EGTA and nitrilotriacetic acid. The components of the response which were revealed were further analysed by using drugs which modify Ca2+ mobilization. 2. Three separate elements in the contractile response were identified: (i) an initial transient contraction, due to intracellular Ca2+ release could be isolated with [Ca2+]o between 1 nmol/l and 3 μmol/l (this could be obtained only with noradrenaline, phenylephrine and amidephrine); (ii) a nifedipine-sensitive response requiring [Ca2+]o of 3 μmol/l or more; (iii) a nifedipine-resistant response requiring [Ca2+]o of 100 μmol/l or more. Presumably (ii) and (iii) involve the entry of Ca2+o: they could be obtained with all agonists tested, including these above, methoxamine, indanidine and xylazine. 3. The results are discussed in relation to the possibility of distinct types of response and their relationship to subgroups of receptors or agonists. It is concluded that there is a continuous spectrum of activity across the agonist range and that this is likely to correlate with ‘efficacy’ at a single α1 receptor type.

Contraction of guinea pig ileal smooth muscle by acetyl glyceryl ether phosphorylcholine

1981 ◽  
Vol 241 (3) ◽  
pp. C130-C133 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. R. Findlay ◽  
L. M. Lichtenstein ◽  
D. J. Hanahan ◽  
R. N. Pinckard
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Guinea Pig ◽  
Muscle Contraction ◽  
Glyceryl Ether ◽  
Platelet Activating Factor ◽  
Smooth Muscle Contraction

Acetyl glyceryl ether phosphorylcholine (AGEPC) is a chemical that has the biological activity of what was formerly termed platelet-activating factor. We report here that synthetic AGEPC induces the contraction of guinea pig ileal smooth muscle. Antagonists of histamine, acetylcholine, and slow-reacting substances (SRS) do not block AGEPC-induced contraction. These responses were long lasting, resistant to washing, and displayed complete agonist specific desensitization. Histamine- and SRS-induced contractions were unaffected by AGEPC. These studies show that AGEPC has the potential to produce a component of anaphylactically induced smooth muscle contraction.

Blebbistatin, a myosin II inhibitor, suppresses contraction and disrupts contractile filaments organization of skinned taenia cecum from guinea pig

2010 ◽  
Vol 298 (5) ◽  
pp. C1118-C1126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaru Watanabe ◽  
Masatoshi Yumoto ◽  
Hideyuki Tanaka ◽  
Hon Hui Wang ◽  
Takeshi Katayama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Guinea Pig ◽  
Muscle Contraction ◽  
Light Chain ◽  
Myosin Light Chain ◽  
Myosin Ii ◽  
Smooth Muscle Contraction ◽  
Myosin Light Chain Phosphorylation ◽  
Thin Filaments ◽  
Tension Development

To explore the precise mechanisms of the inhibitory effects of blebbistatin, a potent inhibitor of myosin II, on smooth muscle contraction, we studied the blebbistatin effects on the mechanical properties and the structure of contractile filaments of skinned (cell membrane permeabilized) preparations from guinea pig taenia cecum. Blebbistatin at 10 μM or higher suppressed Ca2+-induced tension development at any given Ca2+ concentration but had little effects on the Ca2+-induced myosin light chain phosphorylation. Blebbistatin also suppressed the 10 and 2.75 mM Mg2+-induced, “myosin light chain phosphorylation-independent” tension development at more than 10 μM. Furthermore, blebbistatin induced conformational change of smooth muscle myosin (SMM) and disrupted arrangement of SMM and thin filaments, resulting in inhibition of actin-SMM interaction irrespective of activation with Ca2+. In addition, blebbistatin partially inhibited Mg2+-ATPase activity of native actomyosin from guinea pig taenia cecum at around 10 μM. These results suggested that blebbistatin suppressed skinned smooth muscle contraction through disruption of structure of SMM by the agent.

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