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Catecholamines have been demonstrated to possess direct cardiotoxic effects mediated by oxygen free radicals in isolated organ preparations. In order to assess direct cytotoxic properties, the influence of exogenous noradrenaline (norepinephrine, CAS 51-41-2) (10(-6) mol/l) on isolated guinea-pigs cardiomyocytes was examined, in the presence of propranolol (10(-6) mol/l) and phentolamine (10(-6) mol/l) to inhibit adrenoceptor-mediated effects. Cell viability was assessed by morphologic examination (% of striated, rod-shaped cells), before and after a treatment period of 15 and 60 min by the measurement of intracellular enzyme activities in the supernatant of the suspension (lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, glutamate dehydrogenase). The proportion of viable, rod-shaped cardiomyocytes (21.6% +/- 7.6% after preparation, before starting the treatments) significantly decreased over the experimental time (p < 0.05) and, concomitantly, the activity of intracellular enzymes in the supernatant increased. There was no difference between controls and treated suspensions. Thus, there is no evidence for direct toxic effects of norepinephrine in micromolar concentration on isolated cardiomyocytes of guinea-pigs. However, cytoprotective effects by propranolol and/or phentolamine cannot be excluded in this model.

The influence of collection time on the correlation of caffeine concentrations in saliva and serum was examined in six healthy adults after peroral administration of 5 mg/kg caffeine citrate. Saliva was obtained from three different salivary glands (sublingual, right parotid, and left parotid) and evaluated separately. Caffeine concentrations in saliva and serum samples were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. There were no differences in the caffeine concentrations in saliva from the three investigated glands (alpha = 0.05). Saliva samples collected earlier than 2 hours after caffeine intake showed higher caffeine concentrations than could be expected from the corresponding serum samples. Gingiva contamination was shown to be responsible for the higher caffeine concentrations in saliva, and it was concluded that saliva is a feasible matrix for therapeutic drug monitoring of caffeine. If caffeine is administered orally, saliva samples should be taken at least 2 hours after caffeine intake. If caffeine-containing beverages are used as the source of caffeine or if subjects do not cooperate by rinsing the mouth of caffeine contamination, an additional 60 minutes should be added before saliva sampling.

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