Jpn. J. Pharmacol. 78 (1), 39-44 (1998)


Inhibitory Effects of Bifemelane on Brain Ca2+ Channel Subtypes Expressed in Xenopus Oocytes

Mariko Kinoshita (1), Shuji Kaneko (2), Tohru Yasuno (1), Nobumichi Yada (1), Akinori Akaike (1) and Masamichi Satoh (3,*)



Departments of (1) Pharmacology, (2) Neuropharmacology and (3) Molecular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
(*) To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Abstract: Effects of the cerebroprotective agent bifemelane on voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel currents were evaluated in Xenopus oocytes expressing specific Ca2+-channel subtypes. Extracellular perfusion of bifemelane showed a dose-dependent blocking action on both N-type and Q-type Ca2+ channels, but not on cardiac L-type Ca2+ channels expressed in the oocytes, and the inhibitory action on Q-type current was stronger than that on N-type current. The time course of inhibition by bifemelane was comparatively slow; a 20-min perfusion with 1 microM bifemelane was required to reduce the amplitude of the Q-type current to 80% of the control level. When bifemelane was applied intracellularly, the potency and time-course of inhibition was equivalent to that caused by the perfusion of bifemelane. The bifemelane-induced inhibition was voltage-dependent but not use-dependent in Q-type channels since it was apparent at more depolarized potentials but not influenced by the interval of depolarization. These results suggest that bifemelane inhibits the opening of the specific Ca2+ channels located at nerve terminals to suppress excessive neurotransmitter release from neurons in some pathophysiological conditions such as ischemia.

Keywords: Bifemelane, Xenopus oocyte, N-type, Q-type, Voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel


Copyright© The Japanese Pharmacological Society 1998

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