Evidence for the mechanism of the inhibitory action of jatrophone in the isolated rat uterine muscle.

1. Jatrophone (JAT), a diterpene isolated from the plant Jatropha elliptica (1-300 microM), caused a concentration-dependent relaxation effect against acetylcholine (Ach)-oxytocin (Ot)- and KCl-induced uterine sustained contraction. The relative potency order was: Ach greater than Ot greater than KCl. 2. The relaxant effect of JAT was not modified by phorbol ester, forskolin, MIX, TMB-8 and W-7. The increase concentration of calcium (0.2-2 mM) in the medium did not reverse the inhibitory effect caused by JAT. 3. Pre-incubation of the preparations with JAT (16-32 microM) for 20 min, caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of KCl-induced contractile response. At 30 microM, JAT inhibited in an apparently non-competitive manner CaCl2-induced contraction in K+-depolarized preparations. High concentrations of JAT (100 microM) also caused a time-dependent relaxation in CaCl2-induced sustained uterine contraction (T1/2 = approx. 15 min). 4. JAT (30 microM) inhibited the dihydropyridine calcium channel agonist Bay K 8644-induced uterine contraction in an apparently non-competitive fashion, while verapamil (0.1 microM) caused an rightward displacement of Bay K 8644 contraction and marked inhibition of the maximal response.