title: Mechanisms of the inhibitory effects of a phenoxazine compound, 2-amino-4,4 alpha-dihydro-4 alpha-7-dimethyl-3H-phenoxazine-3-one, on the contraction of the smooth muscle of the guinea pig taenia cecum.
abstract: To elucidate the mechanisms involved in the relaxing effect of 2-amino-4, 4alpha-dihydro-4alpha-7-dimethyl-3H-phenoxazine-3-one (Phx-1) on smooth muscle, we investigated its effects on the contraction of both intact and skinned (cell membrane permeabilized) preparations from the guinea pig taenia cecum. In intact preparations, Phx-1 concentration-dependently suppressed the contraction induced by either acetylcholine (ACh) or high-K(+) with an IC(50) value estimated at around 100 muM. Similar inhibitory actions of Phx-1 on force were observed in intracellular Ca store depleted preparations. In cell membrane depolarized preparations in the absence of extracellular Ca, however, Phx-1 had little effect on either caffeine- or ACh-induced contractions. In skinned preparations, Phx-1 suppressed Ca(2+)-induced contractions at concentrations higher than 100 muM. These results suggest that inhibition of smooth muscle contraction by Phx-1 is due mainly to inhibition of Ca(2+)-influx, although Phx-1 also seems to have direct inhibitory effects on the activities of the contractile apparatus.
authors: Department of Physiology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Saifuding
authors: S
authors: Musha
authors: Masaru
authors: M
authors: Watanabe
authors: Akio
authors: A
authors: Tomoda
authors: Masato
authors: M
authors: Konishi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002432:Cecum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010078:Oxazines / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: C104202:2-amino-4,4alpha-dihydro-4alpha,7-dimethyl-3H-phenoxazine-3-one; D010078:Oxazines; D002118:Calcium