A Multidisciplinary Research Programme (MRP) is being developed since 1989 in the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Spain, to support cross-disciplinary research projects. This paper analyses the incidence of interdisciplinarity in the UCM scientific publications over the period 1990-96 and tries to determine the success of the Programme at fostering cross-disciplinary research. Interdisciplinary in the UCM is measured through the collaboration of authors from different institutional addresses within the UCM, both in scientific publications and in research projects. Publications jointly signed by the different teams that collaborate in the projects were identified as an indicator of the success of the Programme in integrating disciplines, hrterdisciplinary collaboration within the UCM showed an upward trend over time. Publications of MRP groups showed a higher interdisciplinary collaboration rate than the rest of the UCM (17% vs.9%). Dramatic repercussions of the Programme were not expected due to its limited magnitude, but it worked as a catalyst, enhancing interdisciplinary relations within the UCM. The interest of such a programme is supported by its effects, both direct effects on granted teams and indirect on the whole UCM community.

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The effects of chlorbutol (0.7, 1.4 and 2.8 mM) on the contractile responses induced by KCl and noradrenaline (NA) and on 45Ca movements have been studied on rat isolated thoracic aorta. Chlorbutol decreased, in a dose-dependent manner, contractions induced by KCl and NA and this effect was observed whether it was added before or after the induced contractions. Preincubation with chlorbutol inhibited the contractile responses elicited by addition of Ca (1-5 mM) to Ca-free high-potassium solution. It also inhibited in a dose-dependent manner the 45Ca influx but increased 45Ca efflux in rat aortic strips. These results suggest that chlorbutol decreases peripheral resistance by reducing the availability of intracellular Ca to the contractile machinery in vascular smooth muscle cells. The effects of synthetic oxytocin (Syntocinon) at concentrations containing the same chlorbutol concentration were quantitatively similar from those produced by chlorbutol alone. Therefore, the inhibitory cardiovascular effects ascribed previously to synthetic oxytocin may be attributed to its preservative, chlorbutol, and not to oxytocin itself.

1 The effect of ketamine (10-7 M-5 x 10-4 M) on electrical and mechanical properties of isolated atria of the rat was investigated. 2 On spontaneously beating right atria, ketamine produced a dose-dependent positive inotropic effect which was accompanied by a progressive reduction in atrial rate. 3 In electrically driven left atria, ketamine produced a dose-dependent positive inotropic effect which was accompanied by a parallel increase in df/dtm,, and by a prolongation in the time to peak tension and in the time for total contraction. The positive inotropic effect occurred concomitantly with an increase in the height and duration of the plateau phase of the action potential of atrial fibres. 4 The positive inotropic effect of ketamine varied with the concentration of Ca and Na in the bathing media and the rate of stimulation. 5 Ketamine decreased post-extrasystolic potentiation and the amplitude-interval relationship. 6 The positive inotropic effect of ketamine was inhibited by verapamil (10-6 M) and by caffeine (4x 103 M).7 Ketamine, 5 x 10-5 M and 10-4 M, increased 45Ca uptake in electrically driven left atria. At 10-4 M and 5 x 10-4 M, ketamine also increased 45Ca efflux. 8 These results suggest that ketamine produces its positive inotropic effect by two possible mechanisms. One of these is presumed to be an effect on the cell membrane which leads to an increased Ca influx into atrial fibres; the other is probably related to the inhibition of Ca sequestration by the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

The cardioprotective effects on myocardial ischemia of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) inhibitor, cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), were studied. We used the isolated arterially perfused interventricular septum of the rabbit heart submitted to 30-min global ischemia/30-min reperfusion. Mechanical [maximal increase in resting tension (MIRT), and the recovery of developed tension (RDT)], and biochemical parameters [creatine phosphokinase activity (CPK) in the effluent] were analyzed. CPA, 1 microM, perfused 30 min before the ischemia intervention significantly increased RDT by 54% and lessened MIRT by 66%. CPA also decreased CPK in the perfusate by 67.7 and 71.4% at 0-2 and 5-7 min of reperfusion, respectively. No additional benefits were shown either when the drug was perfused, both during ischemia and reperfusion, or with higher CPA concentrations (10-30 microM). The CPA cardioprotection was lost when the drug was present only during the reperfusion period. CPA exhibits functional and biochemical cardioprotective effects on myocardial ischemia. We postulated a decreased SR calcium contribution to the initial cytoplasmic calcium overload as the most probable mechanism involved.

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