• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.381-385
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• 1996

Rat ventricles respond with a biphasic positive inotropic effect to ouabain, low-dose and high-dose effects but rat atria with only a monophasic high dose effect. In an effect to understand the difference in response to ouabain of two tissues between rat atria and ventricles the levels of the $a_{2}$ -isoform of the $Na^{+}$, $K^{+}$-ATPase which has higher affinity for ouabain than the $a_{1}$-iso-form were determined by a $[^{3}H]$ouabain binding assay. The yield of protein per gram wet weight was about 47 mg for atria and 100 mg for ventricles. The $K_{d}$ values of ouabain for the high-affinity ouabain binding site $(a_{2} -isoform)$ were nearly the same (230 nM) in the atria and ventricles. However, the numbers of the $a_{2}$-isoform $(B_{max})$ per mg protein were approximately half in the atria. When the binding data were expressed in unit per gram tissue wet weight, the numbers of $a_{2}$ -isoform in the atria was about 25% of that in the ventricles. THese results demonstrate that the $a_{2}$ -isoform of the $Na^{+}$, $K^{+}$-ATPase in the rat atria could be detected by $[^{3}H]$ouabain binding assay and the levels of this isoform are too low to show the low-dose effect of ouabain.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.417-425
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• 2000

The underlying mechanism commonly applicable for both the positive and negative force-frequency relationships (FFR) was pursued in left atria (LA) of rat and rabbit. The species differences in the roles of $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchanger and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), which are major intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ regulatory mechanisms in the heart, were examined in the amplitude accommodation to the frequency that changed from 3 Hz to the variable test frequencies for 5 minutes in the electrically field stimulated left atria (LA) of rat and rabbit. Norepinephrine strongly increased the frequency-related amplitude accommodation in both of rat and rabbit LA, while monensin, oubain or the reduced $Na^+$ and 0 mM $Ca^{2+}$ containing Tyrode solution increased the frequency-related amplitude accommodation only in the rabbit LA. Monenisn was also able to increase the frequency-related amplitude accommodation only in 1-day old rat LA but not in 4-week old rat LA that had 75% less $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchanger with 97% higher SR than 1-day old rat LA. Taken together, it is concluded that the differences in the prevalence between myocardial $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchanger and SR in the amplitude accommodation to the frequency-change determine the difference in the FFR between rat and rabbit heart.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.1 s.15
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• pp.55-59
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• 1974

Further elucidation of the mechanism of halothane's negative inotropic action has resulted from a study of the effect of various substrates on halothane-depressed rat atria. Approximately 6 mg% halothane was required to maintain a 50% depression of the contractility of rat atria suspended in a modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate glucose medium, pH 7.4, $30^{\circ}C$ for 2hr. Both lactate and acetate were found to restore partially the contractility of halothane-depressed atria. The maximally effective concentration of lactate was 5 mM; for acetate it was 2.5mM. Neither 5 nor 20 mM of additional glucose was effective in restoring the force of contraction of halothane-depressed atria. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that halothane exerts at least a part of its negative inotropic effect on rat atria by inhibiting either the uptake or utilization of glucose by the myocardium. The site of blockade must be prior to the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl CoA. In our previous report dealing with the mechanism of cardiac depressant action of inhalation anesthetic halothane, it has been demonstrated that: 1) approximately 6 mg/100 ml halothane is required to maintain 50% depression of the force of contraction of isolated rat atria in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate glucose medium; 2) pyruvate partially restores the contractility of halothane-depressed atria, but has no effect on normal atria; the partial recovery of depressed atria by the addition of sodium pyruvate is due to the effect of the pyruvate ion itself, not to the sodium ion; 4) addition of pyruvate, to atria depressed with hypertonic medium, produced only further depression. From these findings we concluded that the cardiac depressant action of halothane on rat atria is a manifestation of inhibition of glucose uptake or utilization. The present studies were undertaken to observe the effect of other substrates on halothane-depressed atria in order to substantiate our conclusion. As with the case of pyruvate, lactate and acetate also partially restored the force of contraction of halothane-depressed atria. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that halothane inhibits glucose uptake or utilization in the glycolytic cycle of the myocardium.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.63-69
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• 1972

The effects of omission of buffers from Krebs-Ringer medium on contractile activity, membrane potentials and ATP content of electrically stimulated isolated rat atria were investigated. 1) Contractile status: A rapid and marked depression of the contractile activity of atria occurred when buffer-free medium was substituted for the normal Krebs-Ringer medium. 2) Electrical status: The omission of buffers from medium did not alter the resting or action potential magnitudes of atria. However, the action potential duration was on initial increase followed by a decrease in the buffer-free medium. 3) ATP concentration: The omission of buffers from medium resulted in a marked decrease in the ATP levels of atria. It has been also found in the present study that bicarbonate buffer plays an important role for the maintenance of the contractility and ATP levels of the heart. The contractile depression by the omission of buffers was not directly associated with electrical alterations in resting or action potentials of the heart. In the absence of bicarbonate-buffer, glucose no longer plays to maintain the contractile activity and the ATP levels of rat atria.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.1 s.15
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• pp.21-39
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• 1974

Certain metabolic aspects of halothane's cardiac depressant action on the contractility of the myocardium were elucidated from a sudy of the effect of pyruvate on halothane-depressed rat atria. Approximately 6 mg% halothane was required to maintain a 50% depression of the contractility of rat atria suspended in a modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate glucose medium, pH 7.4, $30^{\circ}C$ for a 2 hr. period. Pyruvate was found to restore partially the contractility of halothane-depressed atria. The maximally effective concentration of pyruvate was 2.5 mM. There was minimal pyruvate effect on the force of contraction of control atria. The effect of pyruvate on halothane-depressed atria was shown to be due to the pyruvate and not the sodium ion of the sodium pyruvate. Pyruvate was found to produce no increase in the contractility of atria depressed by hypertonic medium, but caused a further depression. Selected aspects regarding the action of halothane on glucose metabolism in myocardial cells are discussed. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that at least a part of the negative inotropic action of halothane is due to an inhibition of glucose uptake or utilization in the glycolytic pathway.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 1992

A concentration of 0.01 mM bupivacaine was necessary to maintain approximately 50% depression of contractility of rat atria suspended in a modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate glucose medium, pH 7.4 at $30^{\circ}C$. Sodium pyruvate, sodium acetate, and fructose partially restored the contractility of the bupivacaine-depressed atria. However, 20 mM glucose had no effect on the bupivacaine-depressed atria, although this concentration of glucose markedly increased the contractility of normal atria not to be exposed to bupivacaine. Contractility of normal atria was not significantly influenced by sodium pyruvate, sodium acetate, and fructose. The results suggested that at least part of the negative inotropic action of bupivacaine is the result of inhibition of glucose uptake or utilization in the glycolytic pathway, and further pinpoint the blockade as an early step in the glycolytic sequence prior to the phosphofructokinase step.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.1 s.38
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• pp.51-59
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• 1986

The effect of metabolic substrate fructose on the force of contraction of isolated rat atria depressed with lidocaine was determined. Fructose produced dose-dependent increase in the force of contraction of isolated atria depressed by substrate-free Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate medium. The maximally effective concentration of fructose was 30 mM. The isolated atria, suspended in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate glucose medium aerated with 95% $O_2-5%CO_2$at $30^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.4, were depressed 50% by approximately 2.34 mg/100 ml of lidocaine. Addition of 30 mM fructose to these depressed atria resulted in a marked increase in the contractile force similar to that with pyruvate and acetate. Fructose had no significant effect, however, on atria exposed to low-calcium medium. The results are consistent with a previous report suggesting blockade by lidocaine of the uptake or utilization of glucose in the glycolytic pathway, and further pinpoint the blockade as an early step in the glycolytic sequence prior to the phospho-fructokinase step.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.1 s.21
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• pp.7-12
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• 1977

Recently several reports have claimed that the bath temperature changes, such as lower bath temperature, produce supersensitivity on the positive chronotropic effect of catecholamine in cat, mouse and guinea pig atria. However, others showed controversial results against temperature-dependent supersensitivity. Similarly, the inotropic effect of ouabain is diminished in febrile state, however some investigators indicated that cardiac glycoside showed less toxicities and less effects in hypothermic condition. In this study, the effects of norepinephrine and epinephrine on inotropy and chronotropy in isolated rat atria was investigated by changing the temperature of bath ($30^{\circ}C$, $^35{\circ}C$ and $38^{\circ}C$). In addition, the effects of ouabain on atria in hypothermic bath was also studied. The followings are the results. 1. At the lower bath temperature isolated rat atrial rate was decreased and contractility was increased. 2. The chronotropic responses to norepinephrine and epinephrine in $38^{\circ}C$ were decreased when the bath temperature lowered to $35^{\circ}C$ or $30^{\circ}C$, while the inotropic responses were not affected. 3. Hypothermic supersensitivity to norepinephrine or epinephrine was not observed in rat atrium. 4. The inotropic response to ouabain was potentiated but chronotropic response was diminished by a lowering in the bath temperature. In conclusion, the chronotropic response of rat atrium to catecholamine was decreased, however, hypothermic supersensitivity was no longer present in rat atrium and the inotropic response of ouabain was increased at lower bath temperature.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.31 no.1 s.57
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• pp.53-61
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• 1995

The experiments were performed to determine whether the cardiac depressant action of lidocaine is directly associated with the utilization of endogenous substrates in isolated rat atria, by using citrate and bicarbonate-free medium known as potent inhibitors of phosphofructokinases (PFK) enzyme step. Citrate and bicarbonate-free medium produced negative inotropic action of isolated rat atria incubated in normal Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate glucose medium. Pyruvate and acetate increased the force of contraction of atria depressed by citrate or bicarbonate-free medium, whereas fructose was without effect indicating the inhibitory effect of citrate and bicarbonate-free medium at some point in the glycolytic pathway such as the PFK step in atria. In the absence of exogenous substrate, citrate and bicarbonate-free medium produced a marked depression of the force of substrate-depleted atria indicating that utilization of endogenous substrate above the PFK step, probably cardiac glycogen, is also impaired by citrate or bicarbonate-free medium. Lidocaine produced further depression of the contractile force of atria depressed by citrate. These results argue strongly for an additional mechanism of cardiac depression caused by lidocaine involving the sites below the PFK.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 1994

The experiments were performed to determine whether lidocaine interferes with the utilization of lipid as source of energy fuel for the contractile process by the isolated rat atria. Rats were starved for two days in order to inerease the lipid content of the heart. Atria from starved rats were better able to maintain their contractility in the absence of exgenous substrate, and also were more resistant to depression by lidocaine than atria from fed rats. Starvation results in a marked loss of body weight in rats. In contrast to the starved rats, the body weight of fed rats inereased with time. The smaller reduction in contractile activity of atria from the starved rats may suggest that endogenous lipid accumulates during starvation period and is used as an energy source for the contractile process in the face of a lidocaine-induced blockade in glycolysis.