Antithrombotic nipecotamide increases cyclic AMP levels and inhibits protein phosphorylation in human platelets

alpha,alpha'-bis[3-(N,N-diethylcarbamoyl)piperidino]-p-xylene dihydrobromide (A-1), a typical antithrombotic nipecotamide, elevated the levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in human platelets in vitro, without inhibiting cAMP-phosphodiesterase (PDE). The compound elevated the basal cAMP levels, enhanced the prostaglandin (PG)E1-stimulated platelet adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity, and prevented the ADP-induced decline of the latter. Collagen-induced phosphorylation of 20 and 47 kDa proteins was inhibited by IC50 and 0.5 x IC50 concentrations. In light of the known actions of A-1, it is suggested that stimulation of AC and inhibition of agonist-induced rise in cytosolic ionized calcium ([Ca2+]i) may constitute an aspect of its mechanism of action.