Inhibitory effects of ethaverine, a homologue of papaverine, on dopamine content in PC12 cells

  • Biol Pharm Bull. 2001 Jan;24(1):103-5. doi: 10.1248/bpb.24.103.
J S Shin  1 ,  J J Lee ,  Y Kim ,  C K Lee ,  Y P Yun ,  M K Lee
Affiliations
  • 1. College of Pharmacy, Chungbhuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.
PMID: 11201237 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.24.103
Abstract

The inhibitory effects of ethaverine on dopamine content in PC12 cells were investigated. Ethaverine decreased dopamine content in a concentration-dependent manner in PC12 cells and showed 33.6% inhibition of dopamine content at a concentration of 1.0 microM for 24-48 h. The IC50 value of ethaverine was 1.4 microM. Dopamine content was lowered at 6h and reached a minimal level at 12h after exposure to ethaverine at 2.0 microM. The decreased dopamine level was maintained up to 48 h and then recovered to the control level at about 72 h. Tyrosine Hydroxylase (TH) was inhibited at 6 h following treatment with ethaverine in PC12 cells and the activity was maintained at a reduced level up to 36 h (12-22% inhibition at 2.0 microM). These results indicate that ethaverine leads to a decrease in dopamine content by inhibition of TH activity.

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