Possible mechanisms underlying the vasodilatation induced by olprinone, a phosphodiesterase III inhibitor, in rabbit coronary artery

The possible mechanisms underlying the vasodilatation induced by olprinone, a phosphodiesterase type III inhibitor, were investigated in smooth muscle of the rabbit coronary artery. Isometric force and membrane potential were measured simultaneously using endothelium‐denuded smooth muscle strips. Acetylcholine (ACh, 3 μ M ) produced a contraction with a membrane depolarization (15.2±1.1 mV). In a solution containing 5.9 m M K + , olprinone (100 μ M ) hyperpolarized the resting membrane and (i) caused the absolute membrane potential level reached with ACh to be more negative (but did not reduce the delta membrane potential seen with ACh, 15.2±1.8 mV) and (ii) attenuated the ACh‐induced contraction. In a solution containing 30 m M K + , these effects were not seen with olprinone. Glibenclamide (10 μ M ) blocked the olprinone‐induced membrane hyperpolarization. 4‐AP (0.1 m M ) significantly attenuated the olprinone‐induced resting membrane hyperpolarization but TEA (1 m M ) had no such effect. Glibenclamide (10 μ M ), TEA (1 m M ) and 4‐AP (0.1 m M ), given separately, all failed to modify the inhibitory actions of olprinone on (i) the absolute membrane potential level seen with ACh and (ii) the ACh‐induced contraction. It is suggested that olprinone inhibits the ACh‐induced contraction through an effect on the absolute level of membrane potential achieved with ACh in smooth muscle of the rabbit coronary artery. It is also suggested that glibenclamide‐sensitive, ATP‐sensitive K + channels do not play an important role in the olprinone‐induced inhibition of the ACh‐induced contraction.British Journal of Pharmacology (2000) 129 , 1000–1006; doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0703125