Neuromuscular disorders : NMD
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Neuromuscul. Disord. · Jul 2004
Comparative StudyFunctional characterization of malignant hyperthermia-associated RyR1 mutations in exon 44, using the human myotube model.
Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a pharmacogenetic disorder with an autosomal dominant inheritance. During exposure to triggering agents as volatile anaesthetics, affected individuals may develop a potentially fatal hypermetabolic syndrome caused by excessive calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in skeletal muscle. ⋯ Investigation of calcium homeostasis with the calcium sensitive probe Fura 2 showed a higher sensitivity to the ryanodine receptor agonists 4-chloro-m-cresol, caffeine and halothane for the myotubes derived from the mutation carriers as compared to those of the control group. The presence of RyR1 mutations with impact on calcium homeostasis emphasizes the functional significance of exon 44.
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Neuromuscul. Disord. · Jul 2004
Comparative StudyNew potent mexiletine and tocainide analogues evaluated in vivo and in vitro as antimyotonic agents on the myotonic ADR mouse.
The antimyotonic activity of chiral derivatives of mexiletine and tocainide, selected as potent use-dependent blockers of skeletal muscle sodium channels, was evaluated in vivo acutely in myotonic ADR mice. The compounds had either aromatic (Me4 and Me6) or branched isopropyl groups (Me5 and To1) on the asymmetric centre, or had this latter one methylene apart from the amino group (Me2). Therapeutic doses of mexiletine (5-10 mg/kg) and tocainide (7-20 mg/kg) significantly reduced the long time of righting reflex (TRR), typical of ADR mice. ⋯ On stimulus-evoked firing, the isopropyl analogues were 2-4-fold more potent than parent compounds, while the aromatic analogues were about 10-fold more potent than mexiletine. Patch-clamp recordings confirmed a normal-like pharmacological sensitivity of sodium channels of native ADR muscle fibres. Finally, the in vivo antimyotonic activity is due to the block of sodium channels and divergences with in vitro potency can be related to structure-based changes in drug pharmacokinetics.