Multiple molecular forms of phosphodiesterase and the regulation of cardiac muscle contractility

Two approaches were taken to examine the role which the different forms of phosphodiesterase present in cardiac muscle play in regulating contractility. In an initial study, the effect of selective inhibitors of i) the calmodulin-stimulated phosphodiesterase (M & B 22, 948), ii) the cyclic GMP-stimulated phosphodiesterase (dipyridamole), and iii) the low Km, cyclic AMP-specific phosphodiesterase (imazodan) on the contractility of isolated guinea pig left atria was examined. Of the three selective phosphodiesterase inhibitors, only imazodan increased atrial contractility. In a subsequent study, the effect of imazodan on in vivo contractility was evaluated. Imazodan was found to potently increase contractility in the dog and the Rhesus monkey, while exerting only modest-to-minimal effects of contractility in the guinea pig and the hamster. Imazodan produced no positive inotropic effect in the rat. These species differences can apparently be attributed to i) the presence of subclasses of the low Km, cyclic AMP-specific phosphodiesterase (PDE III) in cardiac muscle, one of which is potently inhibited by the selective PDE III inhibitors imazodan, cyclic GMP and cilostamide, and the other which is selectively inhibited by rolipram and Ro 20-1724, and ii) variations in the intracellular localization of imazodan-sensitive subclass of PDE III. Thus, the maximum inotropic response to imazodan was observed only in those species in which the imazodan-sensitive subclass of PDE III was present and was membrane-bound, e.g., Rhesus monkey and dog. In the dog, the imazodan-insensitive subclass PDE III does not appear to play an important role in regulating cardiac contractility. These observations provide further support for the hypothesis that the inotropic response to imazodan, amrinone and related cardiotonics is due to their inhibitory effects on the cyclic AMP-specific form of phosphodiesterase, and also provides new insight into the relationship between cyclic AMP, phosphodiesterase and myocardial contractility.