To examine the effects of asenapine on NO release and Ca2+ transients in H9C2, which were either subjected to peroxidation or not.

H9C2 were treated with asenapine alone or in presence of intracellular kinases blockers, serotoninergic and dopaminergic antagonists, and voltage Ca2+ channels inhibitors. Experiments were also performed in H9C2 treated with hydrogen peroxide. NO release and intracellular Ca2+ were measured through specific probes.

In H9C2, asenapine differently modulated NO release and Ca2+ movements depending on the peroxidative condition. The Ca2+ pool mobilized by asenapine mainly originated from the extracellular space and was slightly affected by thapsigargin. Moreover, the effects of asenapine were reduced or prevented by kinases blockers, dopaminergic and serotoninergic receptors inhibitors and voltage Ca2+ channels blockers.

On the basis of our findings we can conclude that asenapine by interacting with its specific receptors, exerts dual effects on NO release and Ca2+ homeostasis in H9C2; this would be of particular clinical relevance, when considering their role in cardiac function modulation.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.