In vitro antagonism of recombinant ligand-gated ion-channel receptors by stereospecific enantiomers of bupivacaine.

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Ueta K, Sugimoto M, Suzuki T, Uchida I, Mashimo T

In vitro antagonism of recombinant ligand-gated ion-channel receptors by stereospecific enantiomers of bupivacaine.

Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2006 Jan-Feb;31(1):19-25.

PubMed ID

16418020 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Bupivacaine is a racemic mixture of S(-)- and R(+)-enantiomers. Both isomers have similar potency as local anesthetics, but the S(-)-enantiomer produces less central nervous system and cardiovascular toxicity. Local anesthetic-induced convulsion is likely to be associated with not only sodium channel but also ligand-gated ion channel. The present study investigates the direct effects of the stereoenantiomers of bupivacaine on 4 recombinant ligand-gated ion-channel receptors. METHODS: The antagonist activities of the S(-)- and R(+)-enantiomers of bupivacaine were tested at the nicotinic acetylcholine, N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA), gamma-aminobutyric acid(A) (GABA(A)), and 5-hydroxytryptamine(3A) (5-HT(3A)) receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes using a 2-voltage clamp technique. RESULTS: Racemic bupivacaine and its 2 enantiomers all antagonized the 4 receptors in a concentration-dependent manner. Potencies at nicotinic acetylcholine, NMDA, and 5-HT(3A) receptors were similar. At GABA(A) receptors, the potency of R(+)-bupivacaine was less than racemic bupivacaine or levobupivacaine. CONCLUSIONS: Comparison of the antagonist potencies with local concentrations obtained in clinical use suggests that bupivacaine and its enantiomers are likely to produce extensive inhibition at the nicotinic acetylcholine, NMDA, and 5-HT(3A) receptors but a much weaker and probably not clinically relevant effect at the GABA(A) receptor. It is possible that direct effects at these receptors may contribute, at least in part, to the spinal and epidural anesthesia induced by these compounds. It is unlikely, however, that the difference of the toxicity in bupivacaine enantiomers is because of the stereoselectivities of bupivacaine at ligand-gated ion-channel receptors studied.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets

Drug	Target	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Levobupivacaine	Sodium channel protein type 10 subunit alpha	Protein	Humans	Yes	Inhibitor	Details