Smooth muscle relaxation

Opium is the dried, powdered sap of the unripe seed pod of Papaver somniferum, a poppy plant indigenous to Asia minor. Theophrastus described its medical properties in the third century BC, but the Sumerians, ca BC 4000, probably perceived its utility. Arab physicians knew of the dmg, and Arab traders carried it to the Orient where it was used as a treatment for dysentery. Paracelsus is credited with repopularizing the dmg in western Europe in the early sixteenth century by formulating opium into "laudanum", which is still in use. More than 20 different alkaloids (qv) of two different classes comprise 25% of the weight of dry opium. The benzylisoquinolines, characterized by papaverine [58-74-2] (1.0%), a smooth muscle relaxant, and noscapine [128-62-1] (6.0%), an antitussive agent, do not have any analgesic effects. The phenanthrenes, the second group, are the more common and include 10% morphine (1, = R = H), 0.5% codeine [76-57-3], C gH2 N03, (1, R = H, R = CH3), and 0.2 thebaine [115-37-7], C 2H2 N03, (2). 

Verapamil. Verapamil hydrochloride (see Table 1) is a synthetic papaverine [58-74-2] C2qH2 N04, derivative that was originally studied as a smooth muscle relaxant. It was later found to have properties of a new class of dmgs that inhibited transmembrane calcium movements. It is a (+),(—) racemic mixture. The (+)-isomer has local anesthetic properties and may exert effects on the fast sodium channel and slow phase 0 depolarization of the action potential. The (—)-isomer affects the slow calcium channel. Verapamil is an effective antiarrhythmic agent for supraventricular AV nodal reentrant arrhythmias (V1-2) and for controlling the ventricular response to atrial fibrillation (1,2,71—73). 

The precise mechanism of nitrate action is not cleady understood and may be a combination of many factors. The basic pharmacologic action of nitrates is a relaxation of most vascular smooth muscle, eg, vascular, bronchial, gastrointestinal, uretal, uterine, etc. Vascular smooth muscle relaxation is a... 

There are at least 13 primary types of K+ channels known. In addition, within each type there are several subtypes. The best known chemical classes of potassium channel openers are nicorandil, piaacidil, and cromakalim. They are aU potent smooth muscle relaxants. PharmacologicaUy, they behave as classical vasodilators, lowering blood pressure and causiag tachycardia and fluid retention. 

Therapeutic Function Diuretic, smooth muscle relaxant... 

Therapeutic Function Smooth muscle relaxant Chemical Name Theophylline cholinate Common Name Oxotriphylline oxytrimethylline... 

The major relaxing transmitters are those that elevate the cAMP or cGMP concentration (Fig. 3). Adenosine stimulates the activity of cAMP kinase. The next step is not clear, but evidence has been accumulated that cAMP kinase decreases the calcium sensitivity of the contractile machinery. In vitro, cAMP kinase phosphorylated MLCK and decreased thereby the affinity of MLCK for calcium-calmodulin. However, this regulation does not occur in intact smooth muscle. Possible other substrate candidates for cAMP kinase are the heat stable protein HSP 20, (A heat stable protein of 20 kDa that is phosphorylated by cGMP kinase. It has been postulated that phospho-HSP 20 interferes with the interaction between actin and myosin allowing thereby smooth muscle relaxation without dephosphorylation of the rMLC.) Rho A and MLCP that are phosphorylated also by cGMP kinase I (Fig. 3). 

These cascades of reactions need time in the range of seconds synaptic transmission through GPCRs is slow. All further postsynaptic changes depend on the type of postsynaptic cell. For example activation of 32-adrenoceptors causes in the heart an increase of the rate and force of contraction in skeletal muscle glycogenolysis and tremor in smooth muscle relaxation in bronchial glands secretion and in sympathetic nerve terminals an increase in transmitter release. 

Vap inhalation causes vasodilation, smooth muscle relaxation and hypotension... 

Smooth Muscle Relaxes When the Concentration of Ca Falls Below 10 Molar... 

The opiate alkaloid, papaverine, from Papaver somniferum is an anti-spasmodic, vasodilator, and smooth muscle relaxant. Its total synthesis has been studied since Pictet and Gams early work in 1909 and has since been followed up by various industrial syntheses up till the early 1950s using important industrial commodities as vanillin, acetovanillone, veratraldehyde (methylvanillin), and homoveratric acid as starting materials (see Figure 4.50). Table 4.23 summarizes the results of the five synthetic plans for this natural product. All are convergent... 

P2-Agonists cause airway smooth muscle relaxation by stimulating adenyl cyclase to increase the formation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). Other non-bronchodilator effects have been observed, such as improvement in mucociliary transport, but their significance is uncertain.11 P2-Agonists are available in inhalation, oral, and parenteral dosage forms the inhalation route is preferred because of fewer adverse effects. 

Sildenafil (Viagra ), tadalafil (Cialis ), and vardenafil (Levitra ) act by selectively inhibiting phosphodiesterase (PDE) type 5, an enzyme that breaks down cGMP. By inhibiting the breakdown of cGMP, smooth muscle relaxation is... 

A smooth muscle relaxant apparently of the antimuscarinic type whose actions, therefore, are somewhat reminiscent of atropine, is isomylamine (43). Its synthesis begins with the sodamide catalyzed alkylation of cyclohexyl nitrile (40) with l-bromo-3-methylbutane and the resulting nitrile (41) is hydrolyzed to the acid (42) with HBr in acetic acid. Alkylation of the sodium salt of this acid using p-chloroethyldiethylamine leads to the desired 43. 

Mebeverine (81), a smooth muscle relaxant, is prepared, i. a., by reacting sodium 3,4-dimethoxy-benzoate (77) with 1,4-dichlorobutane to form chloro-ester 78 which is in turn transformed to the corresponding iodide (79) on heating with Nal in methyl-ethyl ketone. Alkylation of 2-ethylamino-3-p-methoxy-phenylpropane (80) with 79 leads to mebeverine... 

Quinazolines containing an electron-rich carbocyclic ring have been associated with smooth muscle relaxant activity. The mechanism of action (phosphodiesterase inhibition, a- adrenergic blockade) and organ selectivity (bronchi, vascular smooth muscle) vary greatly with substitution on the heterocyclic ring. 

Hosoki R, Matsuki N, Kimura H. 1997. The possible role of hydrogen sulfide as an endogenous smooth muscle relaxant in synergy with nitric oxide. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 237 527-531. 

H. Kimura, Y. Nagai, K. Umemure, and Y. Kimura, Physiological roles of hydrogen sulfide synaptic modulation, neuroprotection, and smooth muscle relaxation. Antioxidants Redox Signaling 7, 795-803 (2005). 

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