ep-092 and vapiprost

1. The effects of selective thromboxane antagonists and a thromboxane synthase inhibitor on the contraction to 9,11-dideoxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-epoxymethano-prostaglandin F2 alpha (U46619) and oxygen in the human umbilical artery (HUA) were examined. The effect of the antagonists on contractions to both 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT) were also examined. 2. U46619 (0.3 nM-10 microM) contracted the HUA. This contraction was antagonized by two selective thromboxane receptor antagonists EP092 (10 nM-1 microM) and GR32191B (10 nM-1 microM). The contraction was not affected by the selective thromboxane synthase inhibitor, dazoxiben (10 nM-1 microM). 3. When the oxygen tension was increased from 16 mmHg to 120 mmHg, the HUA transiently contracted. Both thromboxane antagonists inhibited this contraction in a concentration-dependent manner with 1 microM almost completely abolishing the response (the oxygen-induced contraction of the control preparation normally increases with a second exposure to 120 mmHg oxygen). 4. In low (16 mmHg) oxygen, responses to both 5-HT and 5-CT were unaffected by both thromboxane receptor antagonists at concentrations up to 1 microM. In high oxygen (120 mmHg) responses to both 5-HT and 5-CT were biphasic in nature, with an additional initial high sensitivity phase, which was abolished by a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor. In high oxygen, EP092 and GR32191B blocked this initial phase in a concentration-dependent manner, returning sensitivity to 5-HT and 5-CT to that seen in low oxygen. 5. The thromboxane synthase inhibitor, dazoxiben, at concentrations greater than 10 nm inhibited the contraction to 120 mmHg oxygen and at 1 microM, dazoxiben almost abolished the response. In low oxygen, the response to 5-HT was unaffected by dazoxiben at concentrations up to 10 microM. In high oxygen, the initial phase of the contraction to 5-HT was inhibited by concentrations greater than 10 nm, with no effect on the maximum response. 6. The results show that thromboxane receptor antagonism or blockade of thromboxane synthesis selectively attenuates oxygen-induced contractions and those responses to 5-HT and 5-CT which are dependent on high oxygen for their expression. This suggests that the contractions caused by high oxygen tension, and the enhancement of the contractile effects of low concentrations of 5-HT and 5-CT in the presence of high oxygen tension are mediated by endogenously released thromboxane A2.

Topics: 15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid; Biphenyl Compounds; Female; Heptanoic Acids; Humans; Imidazoles; In Vitro Techniques; Muscle Contraction; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Oxygen; Pregnancy; Prostaglandin Endoperoxides, Synthetic; Prostaglandins, Synthetic; Serotonin; Thromboxane-A Synthase; Thromboxanes; Umbilical Arteries

The rank orders of potency of prostaglandin D2, prostaglandin F2 alpha, 9 alpha,11 beta-prostaglandin F2 and the stable thromboxane A2 mimetics U-46619 and ONO-11113 were determined in guinea-pig trachea and human bronchus in vitro. In both tissues the thromboxane mimetics were markedly more potent than the other prostanoids with EC50 values in the nanomolar range. The prostanoid antagonists BW-245C, EP-092 and GR-32191 attenuated the contractile responses to all of the prostanoid agonists and TXA2 mimetics tested in guinea-pig tracheal spirals, although agonist selectivity was seen. Contractile responses to methacholine in the guinea-pig trachea were unaffected by any of the antagonists employed. BW-245C antagonised the effects of all prostanoid agonists tested in human bronchial spirals, the pA2 values obtained were similar to those seen in the guinea-pig trachea when U-46619 and 9 alpha,11 beta-PGF2 were employed as the agonists. However, significant differences were found between the two tissues when PGD2 and PGF2 alpha were tested against BW-245C. EP-092 produced pA2 values against prostanoid agonists in the human bronchus similar to those seen in the guinea-pig trachea, as did GR-32191. It is concluded that whilst the contractile responses of guinea-pig and human airways smooth muscle to prostaglandin D2, and the other prostanoids are mediated predominantly via thromboxane (TP) receptors, it can be inferred that other receptor populations may contribute to the contractile response. The presence of these minor subpopulations may account for the agonist selectivity seen both within and between tissues from different species.

Topics: Animals; Biphenyl Compounds; Bronchi; Dinoprost; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Guinea Pigs; Heptanoic Acids; Humans; Hydantoins; Male; Muscle Contraction; Muscle, Smooth; Prostaglandin D2; Prostaglandins, Synthetic; Receptors, Prostaglandin; Receptors, Thromboxane; Thromboxanes; Trachea