title: Hyoscine butylbromide potently blocks human nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in SH-SY5Y cells.
abstract: Hyoscine butylbromide (HBB; tradenames: Buscopan/Buscapina is an antispasmodic drug for the treatment of abdominal pain associated with gastrointestinal cramping. As a hyoscine derivative, this compound competitively inhibits muscarinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors on smooth muscle cells in the gastrointestinal tract. Preliminary investigations suggested that it might also inhibit nicotinic ACh receptors. This study investigated the effect of HBB on nicotinic ACh receptor-mediated membrane currents in SH-SY5Y cells. ACh and nicotine application-induced comparable membrane currents with EC(50) values of 25.9+/-0.6 and 40.1+/-0.4microM, respectively. When coapplied with 100microM ACh, HBB concentration-dependently suppressed currents with an IC(50) value of 0.19+/-0.04microM, and was approximately seven-times more potent than the ganglionic blocker, hexamethonium (IC(50)=1.3+/-0.3microM). Increasing the agonist concentration to 5mM did not affect the amount of block by HBB, which suggests a non-competitive mode of action. These functional in vitro data demonstrate for the first time that HBB blocks neuronal nicotinic ACh receptors in the same concentration range as it inhibits muscarinic ACh receptors. If one hypothesizes that HBB might also affect nicotinic receptors in autonomic neurons in vivo (e. g. in the enteric nervous system), this effect could contribute to its spasmolytic activity.
authors.affiliation: Department Medical Science, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Binger Strasse, D-55218 Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany. thomas.weiser@boehringer-ingelheim.com
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weiser
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Just
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002086:Butylscopolammonium Bromide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005730:Ganglionic Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D018738:Hexamethonium / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018733:Nicotinic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005730:Ganglionic Blockers; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D018733:Nicotinic Antagonists; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D002086:Butylscopolammonium Bromide; D018738:Hexamethonium; D000109:Acetylcholine