DPI 201-106, a novel cardioactive agent. Combination of cAMP-independent positive inotropic, negative chronotropic, action potential prolonging and coronary dilatory properties.

The in vitro cardiac effects of DPI 201-106, a novel piperazinyl-indole, were investigated. DPI 201-106 produced concentration-dependent positive inotropic effects in guinea-pig and rat left atria, kitten, rabbit and guinea-pig papillary muscles and Langendorff perfused hearts of rabbits between 10(-7) and 3 X 10(-6) mol/l. During isometric twitches, contraction and relaxation phases were prolonged in guinea-pig left atria and right ventricular papillary muscles from kitten and guinea-pigs. Spontaneous sinus rate was decreased in right atria of guinea-pigs and rats. Coronary flow increased in rabbit isolated hearts. Functional refractory period was increased in left atria from guinea-pigs and rats with EC50 values of 1.7 and 0.24 mumol/l respectively. In electrophysiological measurements, DPI 201-106 prolonged the action potential duration (APD70) in guinea-pig papillary muscles up to 70% and in rabbit atria up to 120% at 3 mumol/l. Other action potential characteristics were not changed in guinea-pig papillary muscles but Vmax was decreased in rabbit left atria. The electrophysiological as well as the positive inotropic effects were stereoselective with the activity residing in the S-enantiomer. DPI 201-106 increased the Ca2+-sensitivity of skinned fibres from porcine trabecula septomarginalis with an EC50 of 0.2 nmol/l. DPI 201-106 dit not change cAMP levels in guinea-pig atria and rabbit papillary muscles. Slow action potentials were not induced by DPI 201-106 in partially depolarized guinea-pig papillary muscles. Phosphodiesterase activity of rat hearts was not inhibited by DPI 201-106 at pharmacologically relevant concentrations. The presence of propranolol did not influence the inotropic potency of DPI 201-106 in guinea-pig atria. In conclusion, DPI 201-106 represents a novel type of positive inotropic agents with a synergistic sarcolemmal and intracellular mechanism of action.