Planta Med 2002; 68(11): 1049-1051
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-35662
Letter
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Mechanisms Involved in the Vasodilator Effect of Curine in Rat Resistance Arteries

Celidarque S. Dias1 , José M. Barbosa-Filho1 , Virgínia S. Lemos2 , Steyner F. Côrtes3
  • 1Laboratório de Tecnologia Farmacêutica, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa - PB, Brazil
  • 2Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte - MG, Brazil
  • 3Laboratório de Farmacologia Cardiovascular, Departamento de Farmacologia. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte - MG, Brazil
Further Information

Publication History

Received: March 21, 2002

Accepted: June 15, 2002

Publication Date:
26 November 2002 (online)

Abstract

The vasodilator effect of curine was investigated in the rat small mesenteric arteries. In either endothelium-intact or endothelium-denuded mesenteric arteries, curine induced a concentration-dependent relaxation in rings pre-contracted with noradrenline (10 μM; IC50 = 4.8 ± 1.3 μM and 4.8 ± 1.5 μM, respectively) and KCl (80 mM; IC50 = 6.0 ± 1.3 μM and 13.0 ± 5.6 μM, respectively). Curine also inhibited (IC50 = 4.6 ± 0.9 μM) the concentration-response curves induced by noradrenaline. Contractions dependent on calcium-influx elicited by KCl (80 mM) and noradrenaline (10 μM) were inhibited by curine (10 μM). Finally, contractions induced by noradrenaline (10 μM), in calcium-free medium, were strongly inhibited by curine (10 μM). The above results suggest that the inhibition of influx of calcium ions through voltage-operated calcium channels and non-selective channels, and mobilization of intracellular calcium stores sensitive to noradrenaline are involved in the vasodilator effect of curine.

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Steyner F. Côrtes

Laboratório de Farmacologia Cardiovascular

Departamento de Farmacologia, UFMG

Av. Antonio Carlos, 6627

Pampulha. 31270-901, Belo Horizonte - MG

Brazil

Phone: +55-31-3499-2726

Fax: +55 31-3499-2695

Email: sfcortes@icb.ufmg.br