title: The effects of amrinone on contractility, Ca2+ uptake and cAMP in smooth muscle.
abstract: Amrinone, a known positive inotropic agent in the heart, was found to cause a dose-dependent (10--100 micrograms/ml) inhibition of norepinephrine (NE) or high-K+-induced contractions of rabbit aorta. Amrinone also inhibited carbachol or high-K+-induced contractions of guinea-pig taenia coli. Neither total tissue 45Ca uptake nor the rate of 45Ca uptake induced by 80 mM K+ in rabbit aorta was altered by pretreatment with amrinone. On the other hand, a similar pretreatment with amrinone inhibited NE (10(-6) or 10(-5) M) induced tissue 45Ca uptake. Amrinone (100 micrograms/ml) caused about a 70% increase in cAMP concentration over resting levels. It is concluded that amrinone causes a nonspecific inhibition of smooth muscle contractility by acting probably at multiple sites to decrease the availability of Ca2+ required for activation. One or more of these mechanisms may involve cAMP.
mesh_terms: D000631:Aminopyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000032:analysis*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D000631:Aminopyridines; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium; D009638:Norepinephrine