Cellular and molecular remodeling in a heart failure model treated with the beta-blocker carteolol. (1/36)

Broad-breasted white turkey poults fed furazolidone developed dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) characterized by ventricular dilatation, decreased ejection fraction, beta1-receptor density, sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+-ATPase, myofibrillar ATPase activity, and reduced metabolism markers. We investigated the effects of carteolol, a beta-adrenergic blocking agent, by administrating two different dosages (0.01 and 10.0 mg/kg) twice a day for 4 wk to control and DCM turkey poults. At completion of the study there was 59% mortality in the nontreated DCM group, 55% mortality in the group treated with the low dose of carteolol, and 22% mortality in the group treated with the high dose of carteolol. Both treated groups showed a significant decrease in left ventricle size and significant restoration of ejection fraction and left ventricular peak systolic pressure. Carteolol treatment increased beta-adrenergic receptor density, and the high carteolol dose restored SR Ca2+-ATPase and myofibrillar ATPase activities, along with creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate transaminase, and ATP synthase activities, to normal. These results show that beta-blockade with carteolol improves survival, reverses contractile abnormalities, and induces cellular remodeling in this model of heart failure.  (+info)

Betaxolol, a beta(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist, reduces Na(+) influx into cortical synaptosomes by direct interaction with Na(+) channels: comparison with other beta-adrenoceptor antagonists. (2/36)

Betaxolol, a beta(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist used for the treatment of glaucoma, is known to be neuroprotective in paradigms of ischaemia/excitotoxicity. In this study, we examined whether betaxolol and other beta-adrenoceptor antagonists interact directly with neurotoxin binding to sites 1 and 2 of the voltage-sensitive sodium channel (Na(+) channel) in rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes. Betaxolol inhibited specific [(3)H]-batrachotoxinin-A 20-alpha-benzoate ([(3)H]-BTX-B) binding to neurotoxin site 2 in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC(50) value of 9.8 microM. Comparison of all the beta-adrenoceptor antagonists tested revealed a potency order of propranolol>betaxolol approximately levobetaxolol>levobunolol approximately carteolol>/=timolol>atenolol. None of the drugs caused a significant inhibition of [(3)H]-saxitoxin binding to neurotoxin receptor site 1, even at concentrations as high as 250 microM. Saturation experiments showed that betaxolol increased the K(D) of [(3)H]-BTX-B binding but had no effect on the B(max). The association kinetics of [(3)H]-BTX-B were unaffected by betaxolol, but the drug significantly accelerated the dissociation rate of the radioligand. These findings argue for a competitive, indirect, allosteric mode of inhibition of [(3)H]-BTX-B binding by betaxolol. Betaxolol inhibited veratridine-stimulated Na(+) influx in rat cortical synaptosomes with an IC(50) value of 28. 3 microM. Carteolol, levobunolol, timolol and atenolol were significantly less effective than betaxolol at reducing veratridine-evoked Na(+) influx. The ability of betaxolol to interact with neurotoxin site 2 of the Na(+) channel and inhibit Na(+) influx may have a role in its neuroprotective action in paradigms of excitotoxicity/ischaemia and in its therapeutic effect in glaucoma.  (+info)

Topical ophthalmic beta blockers may cause release of histamine through cytotoxic effects on inflammatory cells. (3/36)

AIM: To evaluate the effects of beta blockers used in ophthalmology on the release of histamine from mixed cell preparations containing human leucocytes and basophils. METHODS: A mixed leucocyte and basophil preparation was obtained from venous blood of healthy non-atopic volunteers. Cell preparations were then incubated with betaxolol, metipranolol, timolol, or carteolol. After incubation for 1 hour the histamine content of the supernatant was analysed by automated fluorometric analysis. Cell viability was tested by measuring lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentrations. RESULTS: Betaxolol and metipranolol in concentrations between 10(-2) M and 10(-3) M liberated histamine from human blood cells in a dose dependent manner. Carteolol and timolol had no effect on histamine at these concentrations. At the same concentrations LDH was also detected in the supernatants of cell suspensions incubated with metipranolol or betaxolol. CONCLUSIONS: Betaxolol and metipranolol induce substantial histamine release from human leucocytes, probably as a result of their cytotoxic effect.  (+info)

Partial agonistic effects of carteolol on atypical beta-adrenoceptors in the guinea pig gastric fundus. (4/36)

The properties of the beta1-/beta2-adrenoceptor partial agonist carteolol were investigated in atypical beta-adrenoceptors on the guinea pig gastric fundus. Carteolol induced concentration-dependent relaxation in this tissue (pD2 = 5.55, intrinsic activity = 0.94). However, a combination of the selective beta1-adrenoceptor antagonist atenolol (100 microM) and the selective beta2-adrenoceptor antagonist butoxamine (100 microM) produced only small rightward shifts in the concentration-response curves of carteolol in the gastric fundus (pD2 = 4.91, intrinsic activity = 0.94). In the presence of both atenolol (100 microM) and butoxamine (100 microM), the non-selective beta1-, beta2- and beta3-adrenoceptor antagonist (+/-)-bupranolol (10-100 microM) caused a concentration-dependent right-ward shift of the concentration-response curves for carteolol in the guinea pig gastric fundus. Schild plot analyses of the effects of (+/-)-bupranolol against carteolol gave the pA2 value of 5.29 and the Schild slope was not significantly different from unity. Furthermore, carteolol (10 microM) weakly but significantly antagonized the relaxant responses to catecholamines ((-)-isoprenaline, (-)-noradrenaline and (-)-adrenaline), a selective beta3-adrenoceptor agonist BRL37344 ((R*,R*)-(+/-)-4-[2-[(2-(3-chlorophenyl)-2-hydroxyethyl)amino]propyl]phenoxy-acet ic acid sodium salt) and a non-conventional partial beta3-adrenoceptor agonist (+/-)-CGP12177A ([4-[3-[(1,1dimethylethyl)amino]-2-hydroxypropoxy]-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2- one] hydrochloride) in the guinea pig gastric fundus. These results suggest that the partial agonistic effects of carteolol are mediated by atypical beta-adrenoceptors in the guinea pig gastric fundus.  (+info)

Further evidence that (+/-)-carteolol-induced relaxation is mediated by beta2-adrenoceptors but not by beta3-adrenoceptors in the guinea pig taenia caecum. (5/36)

The properties of the beta1- and beta2-adrenoceptor partial agonist (+/-)-carteolol were investigated against the beta2- and beta3-adrenoceptors of the taenia caecum of the guinea pig. (--)-Isoprenaline and (+/-)-carteolol induced concentration-dependent relaxation in this tissue. The non-selective beta1- and beta2-adrenoceptor antagonist (+/-)-propranolol (10-100 nM), the selective beta2-adrenoceptor antagonist ICI 118,551 (10-100 nM) and the non-selective beta1-, beta2- and beta3-adrenoceptor antagonist (+/-)-bupranolol (10-100nM), caused a concentration-dependent rightward shift of the concentration-response curves for (--)-isoprenaline and (+/-)-carteolol. Schild regression plot analyses carried out for (+/-)-propranolol against (--)-isoprenaline and (+/-)-carteolol gave pA2 values of 8.35 and 8.24, respectively. Schild plot analyses of ICI 118,551 against (--)-isoprenaline and (+/-)-carteolol gave pA2 values of 8.47 and 8.41, respectively. Schild plot analyses of (+/-)-bupranolol against (--)-isoprenaline and (+/-)-carteolol gave pA2 values of 8.47 and 8.53, respectively. Slopes of the Schild plots were not significantly different from unity. These results suggest that the relaxant effects of (+/-)-carteolol in the guinea pig taenia caecum are mediated by beta2-adrenoceptors but not by beta3-adrenoceptors.  (+info)

Ocular hypotensive efficacy and safety of once daily carteolol alginate. (6/36)

BACKGROUND/AIM: Carteolol is a beta adrenoceptor antagonist used topically to reduce intraocular pressure, typically twice daily. In an effort to provide a once daily dosing regimen, carteolol was formulated with 1% alginic acid. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of carteolol alginate solution in comparison with standard carteolol solution. METHODS: This was a double masked, parallel group, multicentre study. Patients with ocular hypertension or open angle glaucoma (n=235) were randomly assigned to receive either carteolol alginate once daily [corrected] or standard carteolol solution, twice daily. The masking was maintained through the use of a vehicle in the evening for the alginate group. Patients were evaluated at baseline, 15, 60, and 120 days. RESULTS: At 0900 (presumed trough) on day 60, mean reductions in intraocular pressure (IOP) from baseline were 6.09 (SD 2.97) and 6.09 (3.18) mm Hg for the standard carteolol and alginate, respectively. At 1100 (presumed peak), mean reductions were 6.51 (2.53) and 6.47 (2.76) mm Hg, respectively. Results were similar at other times (day 15 and day 120). The most common side effect was transient stinging on instillation of drops, which did not differ significantly between groups. There were no differences of note in other ocular or systemic signs or symptoms. CONCLUSION: The new alginate formulation of carteolol 2% given once daily was as effective as standard carteolol 2% given twice daily with no meaningful differences regarding safety.  (+info)

A 7 year prospective comparative study of three topical beta blockers in the management of primary open angle glaucoma. (7/36)

AIM: To determine the long term efficacy of monotherapy with topically applied beta blocking agents and to determine whether selective beta blockers were able to preserve the visual field more effectively than non-selective agents. METHOD: A prospective randomised, open, comparative study of three topically applied beta blockers-timolol, betaxolol, and carteolol-was carried out on 153 patients (280 eyes) with newly diagnosed open angle glaucoma. Those patients who were not withdrawn were followed by the same observers for a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 7 years, with clinical observations, Goldmann tonometry and 24.2 Humphrey visual field analysis. RESULTS: All three drugs lowered the IOP significantly from untreated levels but betaxolol took up to 12 months in some instances to reach the maximum pressure reduction. After 7 years only 43% of the eyes begun on timolol, 34% of those started on carteolol, and 29% of those on betaxolol were still being treated with these medications alone. Visual fields were analysed throughout the trial by CPSD and MD and at the end by linear regression analysis (PROGRESSOR). The visual fields remained the same without apparent improvement or deterioration throughout the period of follow up. Eight patients (11 eyes) were withdrawn because of continuing field loss in spite of reduction in IOP (six using carteolol and five using betaxolol). CONCLUSIONS: Analysis shows that less than half the eyes initially treated with topical beta blockers might be expected to still be being treated with their original medication after 5 years. The rest required either additional medication or trabeculectomy. There was no statistically significant improvement or deterioration in the visual fields over a 7 year period. On the evidence of this trial there are no particular advantages in using selective beta blockers.  (+info)

Mitochondrial activity and glutathione injury in apoptosis induced by unpreserved and preserved beta-blockers on Chang conjunctival cells. (8/36)

PURPOSE: Quaternary ammonium ions have been demonstrated to induce apoptosis correlated with superoxide anion production in vitro. The purpose of this study was to further investigate the mechanisms of benzalkonium chloride (BAC), unpreserved and preserved beta-blocker eye-drops-induced programmed cell death, with special attention to the roles of mitochondrial transmembrane potential and intracellular reduced glutathione. METHODS: Chang conjunctival cells were incubated with different concentrations of unpreserved or preserved timolol (0.1%, 0.25%, and 0.4%), or carteolol (1% and 2%), or BAC (0.0001% to 0.01%) for 15 minutes, or for 15 minutes with a 24-hour recovery period in normal medium. Cellular viability (neutral red test), mitochondrial activity (rhodamine 123 test), intracellular reduced glutathione (monochlorobimane test), DNA condensation (Hoechst 33342 test), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production (dichlorofluorescein diacetate and hydroethidine tests) were evaluated using microplate cold-light cytofluorometry. RESULTS: A significant, concentration-dependent decrease in cellular viability was found with preserved beta-blockers and with BAC alone, whereas unpreserved preparations did not show any toxicity. Only preserved beta-blockers induced chromatin condensation associated with an alteration of mitochondrial activity and a decrease of glutathione, suggesting an apoptotic phenomenon. BAC increased glutathione after 15 minutes, whereas a decrease was observed after a recovery period. ROS production was found with preserved formulations at significantly higher levels than those observed with unpreserved drugs. CONCLUSIONS: This in vitro study demonstrates that oxidative stress, evidenced by enhanced ROS production and mitochondrial injury rather than by cellular glutathione depletion, is a mechanism involved in apoptosis induced by preservative-containing eye-drops.  (+info)