title: Studies on curare-like action of 2,2',2''-tripyridine in the mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm.
abstract: 1. The curare-like action of 2,2',2''-tripyridine (a synthetic by-product of the herbicide, paraquat) was studied in mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation. The inhibition by 2,2',2''-tripyridine of nerve-evoked twitches was dependent on the concentration, ranging from 1 to 100 microM, which had no significant effect on the twitch amplitudes evoked by direct muscle stimulation. 2. The twitch inhibition by 2,2',2''-tripyridine was reversible and could be antagonized by anticholinesterase agents such as neostigmine, physostigmine as well as ecothiophate. 3. Pretreatment with either 0.7 microM (+)-tubocurarine or 2.2 microM succinylcholine shifted the concentration-inhibition curve of 2,2',2''-tripyridine to the left. 4. 2,2'2''-Tripyridine inhibited not only acetylcholine-induced contracture of the denervated mouse diaphragm but also that of the chick biventer cervicis muscle. Like (+)-tubocurarine, 2,2',2''-tripyridine protected the twitches from the inhibition by alpha-bungarotoxin and also specifically inhibited the binding of [125I]-alpha-bungarotoxin to the mouse diaphragm. All of these findings indicate that 2,2',2''-tripyridine possesses curare-like action and inhibits the muscle contractions through binding to postsynaptic acetylcholine receptors. 5. The postsynaptic inhibition exhibited by 2,2',2''-tripyridine was also implicated in the tetanic fade, a decrease in the amplitude of miniature endplate potential (m.e.p.p.) and endplate potential (e.p.p.). 6. The clinical implication of these findings is that 2,2',2''-tripyridine may be involved in the cause of respiratory failure in paraquat-intoxicated workers since 2,2',2''-tripyridine is a by-product of paraquat synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei.
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lin-Shiau
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002038:Bungarotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D002645:Chickens; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000187:drug effects; D004347:Drug Interactions; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D009045:Motor Endplate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013390:Succinylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014403:Tubocurarine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002038:Bungarotoxins; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D011725:Pyridines; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; C013278:2,2',2''-terpyridine; D013390:Succinylcholine; D014403:Tubocurarine