Suppression of Spontaneous Calcium Spikes and Contraction in Isolated Portal Veins of Mice by Gingerols and Chemically Related Compounds

Abstract

The suppression of spontaneous Ca²⁺ spikes and isometric contractions by gingerols and their chemically related compounds was examined using the single sucrose gap method. Most of the congeners tested suppressed spontaneous contraction, which was not necessarily accompanied by the suppression of Ca²⁺ spikes. The most potent analogues for Ca²⁺ spike suppression were (±)-[6]-gingerol (0.3 mM) and (±)-yakuchinone-A (0.3 mM). These compounds also strongly inhibited spontaneous contraction. In contrast, (±)-[8]-gingerol (0.3 mM) inhibited the contraction without changing the Ca²⁺ spikes. These results suggest that the inhibition of spontaneous contraction induced by (±)-[6]-gingerol, but not by (±)-[8]-gingerol, is due to the Ca²⁺ spike suppression.