synthesis and vasorelaxant effect of 9-aryl-1,8-acridinediones as potassium channel openers in isolated rat aorta

atp-sensitive potassium (katp) channel openers have a relaxation effect due to the lower cellular membrane potential and inhibit calcium influx. there has been considerable interest in exploring katp channel openers in the treatment of various diseases such as cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and urinary system disease and premature labor. the purpose of this study was to synthesize 3,3,6,6-tetramethy l-9-aryl-octahydro-1,8-acridindiones and investigate their effects on vascular potassium channels and mechanism of induced relaxations on phenylephrine-induced contractile responses in isolated rings of rat aortic smooth muscle. in this study, four new derivatives of 3,3,6,6-tetramethy l-9-aryl-octahydro-1,8-acridindione [2a-d] were synthesized by the reaction of 5, 5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione with an aromatic aldehyde, 2-alkylthio-1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-5-formylimidazole or 3-substituted benzaldehyde, in the presence of ammonia in methanol. their effects on vascular potassium channels and mechanism of induced relaxations on phenylephrine-induced contractile responses in isolated rat aorta were investigated. minoxidil was used as a standard potassium channel opener and glibenclamide was used as a standard potassium channel blocker. the effects of compounds on kcl-induced contractile response which is an indicator of ca-channel blocking activity was also investigated and compared to that of nifedipine as a standard calcium channel blocker. compounds 3a-d and minoxidil relaxed the contractions exerted by using phenylephrine with the potency order as follows: minoxidil > 3c > 3d > 3a > 3b. this effect was sensitive to the potassium channel blocker glibenclamide. it can be concluded that these compounds act via atp-sensitive potassium (katp) channels. selectivity index (si) for these compounds and minoxidil also shows that these compounds are selective to atp-sensitive potassium (katp) channels and the selectivity of compounds 3a-d is less than minoxidil.