Process for regulating vagal tone

• US 5,874,420 A
• Filed: 12/23/1996
• Issued: 02/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Allegheny University of The Health Sciences, Platinum Long Term Growth Vi, LLC
• Original Assignee: Allegheny University of The Health Sciences
• Inventors: Pelleg, Amir
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarvis, William R. A.
• Application Number:
  US08/771,518
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 514/89, 514/81
• US Class Current: 514/81
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/00 Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/675 having nitrogen as a ring hetero atom, e.g. pyridoxal phosphate
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/7076 containing purines, e.g. adenosine, adenylic acid
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 11/00 Drugs for disorders of the respiratory system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 11/06 Antiasthmatics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/00 Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/06 Antiarrhythmics

Abstract

The present invention provides methods of altering vagal tone in a patient by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a mediator of P_2x -purinoceptors located on vagal afferent nerve terminals to the patient. Diagnostic applications are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of modulating vagal tone in a mammal suffering from a condition associated with undesirable vagal tone comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a mediator of P_2x -purinoceptors located on vagal afferent nerve terminals.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the mediator is selected from the group consisting of antagonists, agonists and receptor allosteric modifiers.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the antagonist is pyridoxyalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2'"'"'4'"'"'-disulphonic acid.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the agonist is ATP.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the condition is asthma.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the condition is state-post myocardial infarction.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the condition is pulmonary embolism.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the condition is bradyarrhythmia.

9. A method of diagnosing abnormal vagal tone in a mammal comprising administering a mediator to P_2x -purinoceptors located on afferent nerve terminals of a patient and measuring the patient'"'"'s vagal reflex elicited by said mediator as compared to a standard reflex whereby reflex which varies from standard reflex is indicative of abnormal vagal function.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the abnormal vagal tone is associated with vasovagal syncope.