Pharmacological comparison of the effect of ibogaine and 18-methoxycoronaridine on isolated smooth muscle from the rat and guinea-pig

1. Ibogaine and 18-methoxycoronaridine are naturally occurring alkaloids reported to possess antiaddictive properties in several models of drug dependence. We have examined their effect at μ-opioid receptors regulating neurogenic contractions of several smooth muscle preparations and also against spontaneous contractions of the rat isolated portal vein. 2. Ibogaine (pIC(50) 5.28) and 18-methoxycoronaridine (pIC(50) 5.05) caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of cholinergic contractions of the guinea-pig ileum which was not affected by the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone (1 μM). 3. In the rat isolated vas deferens ibogaine and 18-methoxycoronaridine caused a concentration-dependent enhancement of purinergic contractions. Both agents (30 μM) caused a 3–5 fold rightward displacement of DAMGO-induced inhibition of purinergic contractions, but similar effects were observed for ibogaine against α(2)-adrenoceptor-mediated inhibition of neurogenic responses. 4. In the guinea-pig isolated bladder both ibogaine (10 μM) and 18-methoxycoronaridine (10 μM) caused a 2 fold increase in the purinergic component of neurogenic contractions without significantly altering cholinergic contractions or responses to exogenous ATP. In contrast, ibogaine (1–30 μM), but not 18-methoxycoronaridine, caused a concentration-dependent enhancement of spontaneous contractions of the rat isolated portal vein. 5. In summary, while ibogaine and 18-methoxycoronaridine modulated electrically-evoked contractions in the three preparations examined, we have no evidence for a selective interaction with pre-junctional μ-opioid receptors. The pronounced enhancement of purinergic contractions produced by both agents is a novel finding and worthy of further investigation