Suppressive Effect of Carvedilol on Na+/Ca2+ Exchange Current in Isolated Guinea-Pig Cardiac Ventricular Myocytes.

Background And Aims: Carvedilol ((+/-)-1-(carbazol-4-yloxy)-3-[[2-(o-methoxyphenoxy)ethyl]amino]-2-propanol), a β-adrenoceptor-blocker, has multi-channel blocking and vasodilator properties. This agent dose-dependently improves left ventricular function and reduces mortality in patients with arrhythmia and chronic heart failure. However, the effect of carvedilol on the cardiac Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX1) has not been investigated.

Nicorandil stimulates a Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger by activating guanylate cyclase in guinea pig cardiac myocytes.

Nicorandil, a hybrid of an ATP-sensitive K(+) (KATP) channel opener and a nitrate generator, is used clinically for the treatment of angina pectoris. This agent has been reported to exert antiarrhythmic actions by abolishing both triggered activity and spontaneous automaticity in an in vitro study. It is well known that delayed afterdepolarizations (DADs) are caused by the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange current (I NCX).

Effect of lignins and their precursors on nitric oxide, citrulline and asparagine production by mouse macrophage-like Raw 264.7 cells.

Lignins, tannins and flavonoids are commonly found polyphenols. Among these polyphenols, lignins, polymers of phenylpropenoids complexed with polysaccharides, were the least cytotoxic and most potently stimulated the production of nitric oxide (NO), citrulline and asparagine by mouse macrophage-like Raw 264.7 cells.

Effects of isoflavones from Sophora species on the growth and activation of a mouse macrophage-like cell line.

We investigated the effect of eleven isoflavones on the growth and activation of mouse macrophage-like Raw 264.7 cells. The study of structure-activity relationship suggests that both hydrophilic (hydroxyl) and hydrophobic (prenyl) groups within isoflavone molecules are the determinants for the induction of cytotoxic activity.

Effects of prenylflavanones from Sophora species on growth and activation of mouse macrophage-like cell line.

We investigated the effect of 2 flavanones and 8 chemically-defined prenylflavanones on the growth and activation of mouse macrophage-like Raw 264.7 cells. Amino acid analysis in the culture medium demonstrated the rapid consumption of serine and glutamine by Raw264.

Stimulation of arginine consumption and asparagine production in LPS-activated macrophages.

Changes in amino acid utilization during lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of mouse macrophage-like cells Raw264.7 were investigated. Amino acids in the medium and cell fractions were extracted by 5% trichloroacetic acid and quantitated by amino acid analyzer.