Effects of the benzimidazole derivatives pimobendan and 2-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)-5-(5-methyl-3-oxo-4,5-dihydro-2H-6- pyridazinyl) benzimidazole . HCl on phosphodiesterase activity and force of contraction in guinea-pig hearts.

The effects of pimobendan (UD-CG 115 BS) and UD-CG 212 Cl (2-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)-5-(5-methyl-3-oxo-4,5-dihydro-2H-6- pyridazinyl)benzimidazole X HCl) on force of contraction, beating frequency, and on adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase activity were investigated in isolated preparations from guinea-pig hearts. Both benzimidazole derivatives exerted a concentration-dependent positive inotropic effect in guinea-pig papillary muscles. The efficacies were similar to that of dihydroouabain. The positive inotropic effect of both benzimidazoles was accompanied by an enhancement of the rate of force development and a prolongation of the contraction. Both benzimidazole derivatives inhibited phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity in a crude preparation from guinea-pig ventricles. However, at the concentrations producing maximal positive inotropic effects in papillary muscles, pimobendan and UD-CG 212 Cl diminished PDE activity only by about 20-30%. Since both benzimidazoles did not affect adenylate cyclase in a particulate membrane preparation a stimulation of the cAMP synthesis can be ruled out. As recently reported for pimobendan, this study provides functional evidence that the positive inotropic effect of UD-CG 212 Cl is also at least partially mediated by cAMP. Firstly, the positive inotropic effect of UD-CG 212 Cl was inhibited by carbachol, adenosine and (-)-N6-phenyl-isopropyladenosine. Secondly, UD-CG 212 Cl potentiated the inotropic effects of isoprenaline and histamine. UD-CG 212 Cl had no positive chronotropic effect and pimobendan increased the beating frequency only slightly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)