OBJECTIVE Papaverine is used to prevent vasospasm in human saphenous veins (HSV) during vein graft preparation prior to implantation as a bypass conduit. Papaverine is a nonspecific inhibitor of phosphodiesterases, leading to increases in both intracellular cGMP and cAMP. We hypothesized that papaverine reduces force by decreasing intracellular calcium concentrations ([Ca2+]i) and myosin light ...

The mode of action of papaverine on smooth muscle relaxation was examined through analyzing its effects on caffeine-induced contraction of guinea pig taenia coli, which might be due to calcium ion mobilized from intracellular store sites. Caffeine contraction induced in normal solution at 32 degrees C was decreased in the presence of papaverine but increased after the removal of papaverine, and...

Papaverine, a major benzylisoquinoline alkaloid in opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), is used as a vasodilator and antispasmodic. Conversion of the initial intermediate (S)-norcoclaurine to papaverine involves 3'-hydroxylation, four O-methylations and dehydrogenation. However, our understanding of papaverine biosynthesis remains controversial more than a century after an initial scheme was propo...

OBJECTIVES Preservation of endothelial integrity during coronary artery bypass grafting is considered important for short- and long-term patency of the graft. In current literature there are controversial data about the safety of papaverine, a vasorelaxant widely used in coronary artery bypass grafting. Accordingly, we examined the immediate effects of papaverine on the endothelial morphology o...

The effects of papaverine on carbachol (CCh) -and high K(+)- induced contraction in the bovine abomasum were investigated. Papaverine inhibited CCh (1 µM) -and KCl (65 mM) -induced contractions in a concentration-dependent manner. Forskolin or sodium nitroprusside inhibited CCh-induced contractions in a concentration-dependent manner in association with increases in the cAMP or cGMP contents, w...

Operative manipulation of blood vessels might lead to spasm, thereby destroying the endothelial cell function: the spasm can be prevented by the vasodilator papaverine. To study if this was mediated via the prostanoid pathway the following investigation was undertaken: canine jugular veins and carotid arteries were dissected with or without papaverine. Vessel segments were then perfused with Ha...

Abstract: The stability of aqueous and non-aqueous papaverine hydrochloride solutions exposed to the UV radiation is poor. In order to enhance its photo-stability suitable light absorbers may be used. There werefour photo-protectors considered in this work: 4-aminobenzoic acid, sodium benzoate, methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate and propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, whose UV absorption spectra characteristics ma...

PURPOSE To elucidate, in light of reports of complications associated with intraarterial infusion of papaverine hydrochloride, the known propensity of papaverine hydrochloride to form precipitate in combination with other solutions or pharmaceuticals. METHODS Initially simulating a situation experienced during an intraarterial papaverine infusion for cerebral vasospasm, we mixed various conce...

PURPOSE To determine the appropriate concentration of papaverine for therapeutic intraarterial infusion against cerebral vasospasm. METHODS We investigated histopathologic changes in cerebral arteries and brain tissue of normal Wistar rats that had received infusions of papaverine via the carotid artery. Rats were infused with 0.20 mL papaverine (concentration, 0.4% to 4.0%) via the internal ...

Prevention of the vasospasm is an important aspect of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with the use of radial artery (RA) as the conduit. We compared the effect of two phosphodiesterase inhibitors papaverine and milrinone on vasodilation and endothelial integrity of human RA segments harvested from 20 CABG patients. Vasodilatory effect of the drugs were assessed by organ bath technique in...