Jpn. J. Pharmacol. 81 (2), 185-193 (1999)


The Effects of a Newly Synthesized ATP-Sensitive Potassium Channel Opener, MJ-355, on Blood Pressure and Myocardial
Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats

Yen-Mei Lee1, Yen-Yen Peng1, Jeon-Rong Sheu2, Chen-Yu Cheng3 and Mao-Hsiung Yen1,*


1Department of Pharmacology, National Defense Medical Center, P.O. Box 90048 - 504, Taipei, Taiwan
2Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Taipei Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan
3Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
* To whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract: ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel openers, exerting a potent vasodilatory action, are useful in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders; e.g., hypertension and angina pectoris. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of MJ-355 (6-cyano-3,4-trans-3,4-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-2H-3-hydroxy4-[2-oxo-5S-(1-ethoxyethoxymethyl)-1-pyrrolidinyl]-1-benzopyran), a newly synthesized KATP channel opener, on hemodynamics in spontaneously hypertensive rats and on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat model of 45 min left coronary artery occlusion followed by 1-h reperfusion. Intravascular injection of MJ-355 (0.005, 0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg) produced a dose-related reduction in mean arterial blood pressure. The depressor effect started 10 - 15 min after the administration and persisted for more than 3 h and was not accompanied by a reflex tachycardia. In myocardial ischemia, pretreatment of MJ-355 (0.02 mg/kg) significantly reduced the total number of ventricular premature contractions and ventricular tachycardia, total duration of ventricular fibrillation and the mortality. Additionally, a significant reduction in infarct size was noted in all of the MJ-355-treated groups. The hemodynamic and cardioprotective effects of MJ-355 were virtually abolished by pretreating the rats with glibenclamide (4 mg/kg, i.v. bolus), a selective KATP channel blocker. In conclusion, MJ-355, through the activation of KATP channels, exhibited antihypertensive and cardioprotective effects. It is suggested that MJ-355 should be useful in the treatment of hypertension and/or acute myocardial infarction.

Keywords: KATP channel, Hypertension, Arrhythmias, Myocardial ischemia, Reperfusion


Copyright© The Japanese Pharmacological Society 1999

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