The haemodynamic effect of the 5HT1 agonist BMS-180048: a class effect of triptans? (1/414)

AIMS: To investigate the effects of an intravenous infusion of BMS-180048, a novel 5HT1-like agonist, on the systemic, pulmonary and coronary circulations in patients undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterisation. METHODS: Ten patients (mean age 55 years (range 41-65)) were studied during diagnostic cardiac catheterisation. The haemodynamic response to an intravenous (i.v.) infusion for 30 min of BMS-180048 (0.56 mg kg(-1) h(-1) for 10 min and 0.39 mg kg(-1) h(-1) for 20 min) was assessed via a 7F Swan Ganz catheter and thermodilution cardiac output system. Quantitative coronary angiography was performed at 10 min intervals. RESULTS: BMS-180048 caused a significant increase in systemic arterial systolic blood pressure (rise of 32.5 mmHg, 95% CI 24,44.5) P=0.009), pulmonary artery systolic (12.2 mmHg, 95% CI 6.8,18.5; P=0.009) and diastolic pressures (8.5 mmHg, 95% CI 5.0,13.8; P=0.009), right atrial pressure (4 mmHg, 95% CI 1.5,5.2; P=0.013) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (9.5 mmHg 95% CI 5.2,14.0; P=0.09). There was no significant change in cardiac output (0.1 l min(-1), 95% CI -0.17,0.57, P>0.05). Mean coronary artery diameter in the proximal coronary segments decreased by 0.73 mm (95% CI -1.22,-0.15; P=0.03) at 35 min. The corresponding reduction in middle segments was 0.26 mm (95% CI -0.395,-0.08; P=0.02). There was a non-significant trend to constriction in the most distal segments of 0.28 mm (95% CI -0.68,0.015); P=0.06). One patient experienced chest pain with ECG changes suggestive of ischaemia. CONCLUSIONS: BMS-180048 displayed a cardiovascular profile similar to that previously reported for sumatriptan. These changes appear to reflect a class effect of these agents.  (+info)

Regulation of calcitonin gene-related peptide secretion by a serotonergic antimigraine drug. (2/414)

We have investigated the regulation of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) release from trigeminal neurons by the serotonergic antimigraine drug sumatriptan. Serum levels of the neuropeptide CGRP are elevated during migraine. Treatment with the drug sumatriptan returns CGRP levels to normal coincident with the alleviation of headache. However, despite this clinical efficacy, the cellular target and mechanism of sumatriptan action are not well understood beyond the pharmacology of its recognition of the 5-HT1 class of serotonin receptors. We have used cultured trigeminal neurons to demonstrate that sumatriptan can directly repress CGRP secretion from sensory neurons. The stimulated secretion in response to depolarization or inflammatory agents was inhibited, but not the basal secretion rate. Unexpectedly, sumatriptan did not lower cAMP levels, in contrast to the classical role ascribed to the 5-HT1 receptors. Instead, activation of 5-HT1 receptors caused a slow and remarkably prolonged increase in intracellular calcium. The inhibition of CGRP secretion is attenuated by the phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid, suggesting that sumatriptan action is mediated by calcium-recruited phosphatases. These results suggest that 5-HT1 agonists may block a deleterious feedback loop in migraine at the trigeminal neurons and provide a general mechanism by which this class of drugs can attenuate stimulated neuropeptide release.  (+info)

Mechanisms of melatonin-induced vasoconstriction in the rat tail artery: a paradigm of weak vasoconstriction. (3/414)

1. Vasoconstrictor effects of melatonin were examined in isolated rat tail arteries mounted either in an isometric myograph or as cannulated pressurized segments. Melatonin failed by itself to mediate observable responses but preactivation of the arteries with vasopressin (AVP) reliably uncovered vasoconstriction responses to melatonin with maxima about 50% of maximum contraction. Further experiments were conducted with AVP preactivation to 5-10% of the maximum contraction. 2. Responses to melatonin consisted of steady contractions with superimposed oscillations which were large and irregular in isometric but small in isobaric preparations. Nifedipine (0.3 microM) reduced the responses and abolished the oscillations. Charybdotoxin (30 nM) increased the magnitude of the oscillations with no change in the maximum response. 3. Forskolin (0.6 microM) pretreatment increased the responses to melatonin compared to control and sodium nitroprusside (1 microM) treated tissues. The AVP concentration required for preactivation was 10 fold higher than control in both the forskolin and nitroprusside treated groups. 4. In isometrically-mounted arteries treated with nifedipine, melatonin receptor agonists had the potency order 2-iodomelatonin > melatonin > S20098 > GR196429, and the MT2-selective antagonist luzindole antagonized the effects of melatonin with a low pK(B) of 6.1+/-0.1. 5. It is concluded that melatonin elicits contraction of the rat tail artery via an mt1 or mt1-like receptor that couples via inhibition of adenylate cyclase and opening of L-type calcium channels. Calcium channels and charybdotoxin-sensitive K channels may be recruited into the responses via myogenic activation rather than being coupled directly to the melatonin receptors. 6. It is proposed that the requirement of preactivation for overt vasoconstrictor responses to melatonin results from the low effector reserve of the melatonin receptors together with the tail artery having threshold inertia. Potentiative interactions between melatonin and other vasoconstrictor stimuli probably also result from the threshold inertia. A simple model is presented and a general framework for consideration of interactions between weak vasoconstrictor agonists and other vasoconstrictor stimuli is discussed.  (+info)

Pharmacokinetics and tolerability of oral rizatriptan in healthy male and female volunteers. (4/414)

AIMS: The pharmacokinetics and dose proportionality of rizatriptan single oral doses from 2.5 to 15 mg administered as solutions to healthy volunteers were studied. METHODS: In a randomized, crossover study with four periods, twenty-four healthy volunteers (12 males and 12 females) took single oral doses of 2.5, 5, 10, and 15 mg rizatriptan in Periods 1-4. In a fifth period, subjects received 4 mg intravenous (i.v.) rizatriptan as a reference. Plasma and urine rizatriptan concentrations were determined at several timepoints/intervals for 12 and 24 h, respectively. RESULTS: The arithmetic mean AUC values following single oral doses of 2.5, 5, 10, and 15-mg rizatriptan were 16, 33, 72, and 127 ng ml-1 h, respectively, in males; and 19, 42, 97, and 161 ng ml-1 h, respectively, in females. The overall bioavailability (F ) of rizatriptan was approximately 40% in males. Following the 4 mg reference i.v. dose, the apparent plasma clearance (CL) and renal clearance (CLr ) were 1042 and 225 ml min-1, respectively, in males; and 821 and 174 ml min-1, respectively, in females. CONCLUSIONS: The disposition kinetics of oral rizatriptan were linear for doses of 2. 5-10 mg in males, and for doses of 2.5-5 mg in females. However, the degree of nonlinearity for higher doses was minor for both genders. The plasma concentrations of rizatriptan were slightly greater in women compared to men but the difference was not considered to be clinically meaningful. Also, the clearance of rizatriptan appeared to be mainly nonrenal.  (+info)

The structural basis of ordered substrate binding by serotonin N-acetyltransferase: enzyme complex at 1.8 A resolution with a bisubstrate analog. (5/414)

Serotonin N-acetyltransferase, a member of the GNAT acetyltransferase superfamily, is the penultimate enzyme in the conversion of serotonin to melatonin, the circadian neurohormone. Comparison of the structures of the substrate-free enzyme and the complex with a bisubstrate analog, coenzyme A-S-acetyltryptamine, demonstrates that acetyl coenzyme A (AcCoA) binding is accompanied by a large conformational change that in turn leads to the formation of the serotonin-binding site. The structure of the complex also provides insight into how the enzyme may facilitate acetyl transfer. A water-filled channel leading from the active site to the surface provides a pathway for proton removal following amine deprotonation. Furthermore, structural and mutagenesis results indicate an important role for Tyr-168 in catalysis.  (+info)

Melatonin, its precursors, and synthesizing enzyme activities in the human ovary. (6/414)

The presence of melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) and its precursors, serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) and N-acetylserotonin, was demonstrated in extracts of human ovary using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorometric detection. In addition, activities of two melatonin-synthesizing enzymes, arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT) and hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT), were found in human ovary homogenates. The apparent Michaelis constants for the substrates of NAT and HIOMT in the human ovary were similar to those reported for the pineal glands of humans and other mammals. These findings strongly suggest that the human ovary, like the pineal gland, may synthesize melatonin from serotonin by the sequential action of NAT and HIOMT.  (+info)

F 11356, a novel 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) derivative with potent, selective, and unique high intrinsic activity at 5-HT1B/1D receptors in models relevant to migraine. (7/414)

F 11356 (4-[4-[2-(2-aminoethyl)-1H-indol-5-yloxyl]acetyl]piperazinyl-1-yl] ben zonitrile) was designed to take advantage of the superior potency and efficacy characteristics of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) compared with tryptamine at 5-HT1B/1D receptors. F 11356 has subnanomolar affinity for cloned human and nonhuman 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptors, and its affinity for 5-HT1A and other 5-HT receptors, including the 5-ht1F subtype, is 50-fold lower and micromolar, respectively. In C6 cells expressing human 5-HT1B or human 5-HT1D receptors, F 11356 was the most potent compound in inhibiting forskolin-induced cyclic AMP formation (pD2 = 8.9 and 9.6), and in contrast to tryptamine and derivatives, it produced maximal enhancement of [35S]guanosine-5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate-specific binding equivalent to 5-HT. F 11356 was equipotent to 5-HT (pD2 = 7.1 versus 7.2) and more potent than tryptamine derivatives in contracting rabbit isolated saphenous vein. In isolated guinea pig trigeminal ganglion neurons, F 11356 was more potent (pD2 = 7.3 versus 6.7) and induced greater increases in outward hyperpolarizing Ca2+-dependent K+ current than sumatriptan. In anesthetized pigs, F 11356 elicited highly cranioselective, more potent (from 0.16 microgram/kg i.v.) and greater carotid vasoconstriction than tryptamine derivatives. Decreases in carotid blood flow were observed in conscious dogs from 0.63 mg/kg oral F 11356 in the absence of changes in heart rate or behavior. Oral activity was confirmed when hypothermic responses were elicited in guinea pigs (ED50 = 1.6 mg/kg), suggesting that F 11356 also accesses the brain. F 11356 thus is a selective, high-potency agonist at 5-HT1B/1D receptors, which distinguishes itself from tryptamine and derivatives in exerting high intrinsic activity at these receptors in vascular and neuronal models relevant to migraine.  (+info)

Zolmitriptan. (8/414)

*Zolmitriptan (Zomig) is an antimigraine drug similar to sumatriptan.*The clinical file mainly comprises placebo-controlled, dose-finding studies recommending an optimal oral dose of 2.5 mg.*Zolmitriptan has been compared with sumatriptan in a trial that showed no difference in efficacy. In particular, the recurrence rate of headache after initial relief was not lower on zolmitriptan than on sumatriptan.*The safety profile of zolmitriptan is similar to that of sumatriptan. The contraindications relating to a history of cardiovascular disease must be respected because of the vasoconstrictive effect of the drug.*Zolmitriptan has the same drug interactions as sumatriptan. Zolmitriptan should not be used during migraine attacks by patients using propranolol.  (+info)