title: Evidence for a sustained effectiveness of sodium-channel activators in failing human myocardium.
abstract: Elevation of cytosolic sodium is thought to be correlated with an increase in force of contraction due to an activation of sodium-calcium exchange. We investigated the inotropic response mediated by the new sodium-channel activator BDF 9148 (0.01-100 mumol/l) on failing human myocardium. Force of contraction was studied using electrically driven human papillary muscle strips from moderately (NYHA II-III, mitral valve replacement) and terminally (NYHA IV, heart transplantation) failing hearts. We also investigated the effects in auricular trabeculae from non-failing hearts (aortocoronary bypass operation). Results were compared with inotropic responses to DPI 201-106 (DPI, 0.1-3 mumol/l), Ca2+ (1.8-15 mmol/l) and isoprenaline (0.001-1 mumol/l). Carbachol (100 mumol/l) and adenosine (1000 mumol/l) were examined in the presence of BDF 9148 and isoprenaline. Both sodium-channel activators, BDF 9148 and DPI 201-106, increased force of contraction in a dose-dependent manner in papillary muscle strips as well as in auricular trabeculae. BDF 9148 and DPI 201-106 were more effective (max. PIE NYHA II-III 1.6 +/- 0.2 mN, NYHA IV 5.9 +/- 0.7 mN, P less than 0.05) and more potent (EC50 (in mumol/l): NYHA IV 0.35, 0.19-0.66; NYHA II-III 1.85, 1.37-2.41) in terminally failing as compared to moderately failing left ventricular myocardium. Moreover, the positive inotropic effects of BDF 9148 were greater than those of DPI 201-106 in NYHA IV (max. PIE 2.7 +/- 0.3 mN, P less than 0.05). In NYHA IV, BDF 9148 was as effective as CA2+ (max. PIE 5.1 +/- 0.4 mN). In the same hearts, the positive inotropic effects of isoprenaline were reduced in NYHA IV (max. PIE 2.1 +/- 0.3 mN) compared to NYHA II-III (max. PIE 3.4 +/- 0.4 mN, P less than 0.05). Adenosine as well as carbachol did not affect the positive inotropic response of BDF 9148 or DPI 201-106 but reduced the effectiveness of isoprenaline (P less than 0.05). In myocardial membranes, BDF 9148 was 1000-fold less effective in competition experiments with 3H-ouabain than ouabain. We conclude that (1) sodium-channel activators may produce a significant cAMP-independent positive inotropic effect in left ventricular myocardium from failing human hearts; (2) the inotropic effect of sodium-channel activators were more potent and more effective in NYHA IV as compared to NYHA II-III. The degree of myocardial failure does not reduce the effectiveness of the sodium-channel activator BDF 9148.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik I, Universität München, Germany.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Schwinger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Böhm
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mittmann
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: La Rosée
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erdmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001384:Azetidines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D010042:Ouabain / Q000378:metabolism; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D001384:Azetidines; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D010879:Piperazines; D015222:Sodium Channels; C071117:BDF 9148; D010042:Ouabain; C046261:DPI 201-106; D007545:Isoproterenol