title: Pycnogenol increases the probability of the contraction state in chick embryonic cardiomyocytes, indicating inotropic effects.
abstract: The influence of pycnogenol on the probability of contraction was studied in chick cardiomyocytes. Ventricles from 9-11 day chicken embryos were cultured. After 10-11 days in culture, stable spontaneous contractions were recorded and the contraction kinetics analysed. Isoproterenol and pycnogenol increased the probability of the contraction state. After pretreatment with the beta-receptor antagonist, propranolol reduced the isoproterenol- and pycnogenol-increased probability of contraction state. These data suggested that pycnogenol has inotropic effects via stimulation of beta-receptor mediated activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Nutrition, Faculty of Home Economics, Gifu Women's University, Gifu, Japan. hsgwn@gijodai.ac.jp
authors.forename: Noboru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: Miyako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mochizuki
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006321:Heart / Q000196:embryology; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D005419:Flavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; C024070:pycnogenols; D011433:Propranolol; D007545:Isoproterenol