title: Ptychodiscus brevis toxin decreases the spontaneous activity of rat right atria involving muscarinic receptors and potassium channels.
abstract: Marine dinoflagellate Ptychodiscus brevis toxin (PbTx), is known to produce toxic effects on cardiovascular system. The present experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of synthetic phosphorus containing Ptychodiscus brevis toxin on spontaneously beating right atrium in vitro. The PbTx (0.84-84 microM) decreased the rate and force of right atrial contractions in a concentration-dependent manner. Ethanol, a vehicle present in highest concentration of PbTx, had no effect on atrial rate or force of contraction. Pretreatment with atropine blocked the PbTx-induced decrease in atrial rate and force of contraction. The tetraethylammonium, a potassium channel blocker, blocked the PbTx-induced decrease in atrial rate and force, where as, L-type of calcium channel blocker, nifedipine blocked the PbTx-induced force of contraction but not the rate changes. The results indicate that the PbTx decreased the atrial rate and force of contraction via cholinergic receptors involving K+ channel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005.
authors.forename: Jitendra N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Maloy B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Mandal
authors.forename: Shripad B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Deshpande
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D019789:Tetraethylammonium / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D003517:Cyclopentanes; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; C480258:O,O-diphenyl-N-cyclopentylphosphoramidate; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015221:Potassium Channels; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D001285:Atropine; D009543:Nifedipine