The activity of nifedipine,diltiazem, verapamil,and lidoflazine in isolated tissues: An approach to the determination of calcium channel blocking activity

A characteristic profile of activity was obtained in six isolated tissues for the calcium channel antagonists nifedipine, diltiazem, verapamil, and lidoflazine. All drugs produced relaxation of K⁺ depolarized guinea pig ileal longitudinal muscle strips and K⁺ depolarized canine coronary artery, depression of electrically stimulated basal contractions of guinea pig left atria, and depression of guinea pig right atrial rate. Also, all drugs produced parallel dextral displacement of concentration-response curves to calcium in guinea pig depolarized taenia caeci. The potency for this effect was quantified by Schild analysis yielding the following pA₂ estimates: nifedipine 9.5, diltiazem 7.65, verapamil 7.8, and lidoflazine 7.0. Nifedipine, diltiazem, and lidoflazine produced no relaxation of methoxamine-contracted rabbit aortae while weak effects were observed with verapamil at concentrations 100 times greater than those required to reverse calcium effects in other tissues. In general, nifedipine and diltiazem displayed selectivity for smooth muscle over cardiac muscle while verapamil showed the least selectivity in this regard.     

Dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonists reduce immobility in the mouse behavioral despair test; antidepressants facilitate nifedipine action

The effect of the calcium channel antagonists nifedipine, nitrendipine, nimodipine, verapamil and diltiazem in the mouse behavioral despair test was investigated. The dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonists nifedipine, nitrendipine, nimodipine (0.1, 1, 10 mg/kg p.o.) but not the non-dihydropyridine compounds verapamil or diltiazem, dose dependently reduced immobility. Various antidepressant drugs (imipramine, mianserin, citalopram, (+)oxaprotiline) and (-)oxaprotiline in combination with nifedipine facilitated its effect.     

SELECTIVITY OF DIFFERENT CALCIUM ANTAGONISTS ON T- AND L-TYPE CALCIUM CURRENTS IN GUINEA-PIG VENTRICULAR MYOCYTES

Both L- and T-type calcium channels are present in the heart. In cardiac myocytes L-type calcium channels are blocked by the classical calcium channel blockers, while T-type calcium channels are thought to be insensitive to these drugs and to be selectively blocked by mibefradil. We aimed to compare the T/L calcium channel blocking selectivity of several calcium channel blockers by evaluating their effects on both components evoked in the same cell from a holding potential corresponding to the normal physiological value (−90 mV). Currents were recorded in single patch-clamped guinea-pig ventricular myocytes, superfused with a Na⁺- and K⁺-free solution to abolish overlapping currents. Two dihydropyridines (amlodipine and lacidipine), verapamil diltiazem and mibefradil were tested; for each compound concentrations equieffective on L-type Ca²⁺ current were used. All calcium channel blockers, at concentrations blocking less than 30% of L-type Ca²⁺ current, inhibited a significant amount of T-type Ca²⁺ current, varying from 0.8% (diltiazem) to 28% (mibefradil). We calculated for each compound the T/L ratio. As expected, mibefradil showed the highest T selectivity; lacidipine and diltiazem resulted to be L selective. Verapamil and amlodipine were not selective. Thus, the calcium channel blockers can be differentiated on the basis of their T/L selectivity.     

Effect of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(omega) nitro-L-arginine methyl ester on relaxant responses to calcium channel antagonists in isolated aortic rings from Dahl normotensive and hypertensive rats

Differences exist between the pharmacological actions of calcium channel antagonists in blood vessels from hypertensive versus normotensive animals. In this investigation, we have examined the impact of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(omega) nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on relaxant responses produced by the calcium channel antagonists (nifedipine, diltiazem, and mibefradil) in isolated aortic rings from Dahl salt-resistant normotensive (SRN) and salt-sensitive hypertensive (SSH) rats on a 4% salt diet. Morphological examination of the aortic rings revealed significantly larger lumen area, smooth muscle wall thickness, and perimeter in vessels of SSH rats versus SRN rats. Rank order potency for the antagonists was nifedipine > mibefradil > or = diltiazem in aortic rings from SRN rats, but mibefradil was found to be the most efficacious. The rank order potency for the antagonists in aortic rings from SSH rats was nifedipine > diltiazem > mibefradil, although all three drugs showed similar efficacy. The presence of L-NAME attenuated relaxations elicited by the antagonists in aortic rings from SRN rats. Treatment of tissues with L-NAME significantly reduced maximal response and decreased pIC(50). The presence of L-NAME had no effects on concentration-response curves to nifedipine and diltiazem in aortic rings from SSH rats, but it significantly attenuated relaxant responses of mibefradil. Our current results support the view that these calcium channel antagonists produce relaxations by mechanisms that are sensitive and insensitive to L-NAME. Moreover, the component insensitive to L-NAME was lacking in tissues from SSH rats for nifedipine and diltiazem but not mibefradil.     

Comparison of negative inotropic potency, reversibility, and effects on calcium influx of six calcium channel antagonists in cultured myocardial cells.

The negative inotropic effects of calcium channel antagonists on the myocardium were used as a standard for the definition and determination of potency of this group of drugs. The effects of six calcium channel antagonists (verapamil, methoxyverapamil (D600), nifedipine, lidoflazine, perhexiline and diltiazem) were compared on cultured chick embryo ventricular cells. Drug concentrations producing 50% inhibition of contractile amplitude, derived from linearized concentration-response curves, varied from 2.8 X 10(-8)M for nifedipine to 8.3 X 10(-7)M for perhexiline. Equipotent negative inotropic concentrations of verapamil, D600, perhexiline, diltiazem and lidoflazine produced a similar inhibitory effect on 45Ca uptake into cultured cells. Nifedipine produced no significant inhibition of 45Ca uptake. The time required for recovery of contractility after cessation of drug superfusion varied in the order lidoflazine greater than perhexiline greater than D600 greater than verapamil greater than nifedipine greater than diltiazem. This relative order accords closely with the reported in vivo half-lives of these drugs. It is concluded that while some inhibition of 45Ca2+ uptake into cardiac cells can be demonstrated with five of the six calcium channel blockers studied, the relationship between the degree of inhibition of calcium influx and negative inotropic effects may not be uniform for all calcium channel antagonists.     

Comparison of various calcium channel blockers on guinea-pig isolated common bile duct

• 1.1. The inhibitory effects of various calcium channel blockers; nifedipine, verapamil, diltiazem and a heterogenous compound, dantrolene, have been investigated on isolated common bile duct from guinea-pig.
• 2.2. All the compounds tested induced a concentration-dependent reduction of the amplitude of contractile response to electrical stimulation or increasing the calcium concentration of the bathing media.
• 3.3. Nifedipine was the most potent compound whereas the least potent was dantrolene; verapamil and diltiazem had intermediate potency.
• 4.4. The IC₅₀ values for these compounds were calculated as: nifedipine 3.68 × 10⁻⁹M; verapamil, 4.93 × 10⁻⁸M; diltiazem, 4.2 × 10⁻⁷M; and dantrolene 5.51 × 10⁻⁵M.
• 5.5. All the compounds displaced the concentration-response curve of calcium chloride to the right in a concentration-dependent manner. Among the compounds studied, nifedipine had the highest and dantrolene had the lowest potency.
• 6.6. These results indicate the striking pharmacological effects of the calcium channel blockers on the common bile duct and may indicate a possible role for these compounds in the treatment of biliary colic.

     

Quantitative analysis of vascular to cardiac selectivity of L- and T-type voltage-operated calcium channel antagonists in human tissues

1. Classical L-type voltage-operated calcium channel (VOCC) antagonists dilate blood vessels, depress myocardial contractility and slow cardiac conduction. 2. We compared four L-type VOCC antagonists and a novel tetralol derivative, mibefradil, reportedly 10-fold more selective for T- (transient) over L-type VOCC in two in vitro assays of human tissue, namely isolated small arteries from the aortic vasa vasorum in a myograph and right atrial trabeculae muscle under isometric force conditions. 3. In arteries contracted with K+ (62 mmol/L), the relaxation pIC50 values for the VOCC antagonists felodipine, nifedipine, amlodipine, verapamil and mibefradil were 8.30, 7.78, 6.64, 6.26 and 6.22, respectively. In atrial trabeculae, the pIC50 values to inhibit the inotropic response to a submaximal concentration of isoprenaline (6 nmol/L) for felodipine, nifedipine, verapamil, amlodipine and mibefradil were 7.21, 6.95, 6.91, 5.94 and 4.61, respectively. 4. Taking the anti-log (pIC50 vessel-pIC50 atrium) the vascular relaxation to cardiac depression potency ratios for mibefradil, felodipine, nifedipine, amlodipine and verapamil were 41, 12, 7, 5 and 0.22, respectively. 5. We conclude that, in human tissue assays, perhaps T- over L-type VOCC selectivity confers the most favourable vascular selectivity on mibefradil. Alternatively, splice variants of L-type VOCC in the vasculature (CaV1.2b) may be more sensitive to mibefradil than the splice variants in the heart (CaV1.2a).     

Differential antagonism by Bay k 8644, a dihydropyridine calcium agonist, of the negative inotropic effects of nifedipine, verapamil, diltiazem and manganese ions in canine ventricular muscle.

Antagonism between either the dihydropyridine calcium agonist, Bay k 8644, or high external Ca2+ and the calcium antagonists, nifedipine, verapamil and diltiazem, and Mn2+ was investigated in canine isolated ventricular trabeculae. Bay k 8644 (10(-7)-10(-5)M) produced a slowly developing increase in developed tension which reached a maximum at 10(-6)M. A small decrease in the positive inotropic effect of Bay k 8644 at 10(-5)M was probably due to the negative inotropic effect of the solvent, 0.5% ethanol. Bay k 8644 (10(-7)-10(-5)M) produced a rightward parallel shift of the concentration-response curves for the negative inotropic effects of nifedipine (10(-8)-10(-5)M) and verapamil (10(-7)-3 X 10(-5)M). The slopes of the Schild plots were -0.92 for nifedipine (pA2 value = 6.58) and -0.48 for verapamil. Bay k 8644 (10(-6) and 10(-5)M) produced only a slight rightward shift of the concentration-response curves for the negative inotropic effect of diltiazem (10(-7)-3 X 10(-5)M) and did not affect the negative inotropic effect of Mn2+ (10(-4)-10(-2)M). Addition of 2.5 X 10(-3)M Ca2+ (5.05 X 10(-3)M Ca2+) to the medium produced a greater maximum positive inotropic effect than Bay k 8644. The concentration-response curves for the negative inotropic effects of nifedipine, verapamil and diltiazem obtained under these conditions were not essentially different from those under control conditions (2.55 X 10(-3)M Ca2+).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Influence of extracellular calcium and calcium antagonists on contractions induced by potassium and prostaglandin F2 alpha in isolated cerebral and mesenteric arteries of the cat.

1 The effects of a number of calcium antagonists (diltiazem, nifedipine, nimodipine and verapamil) have been studied on feline isolated pial arteries contracted by potassium (127 mM) or prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha, 2.5 microM) and mesenteric arteries contracted by potassium (127 mM). 2 Withdrawal of Ca2+ from the extracellular medium for 30 min reduced the contractile response to potassium in cerebral vessels by 92% and in mesenteric vessels by 96%. Subsequent addition of Ca2+ caused reproducible contractions which were inhibited by both nifedipine and nimodipine. 3 The four calcium antagonists relaxed the isolated middle cerebral artery contracted either by potassium or PGF2 alpha, and mesenteric arteries contracted by potassium, in the following order of potency: nimodipine greater than nifedipine greater than verapamil greater than diltiazem. 4 Nimodipine was more potent than nifedipine in cerebral arteries, and more potent in cerebral than in mesenteric arteries. Otherwise, the potassium-contracted cerebral and mesenteric vessels showed no major differences in sensitivity to calcium antagonists.     

Differential actions of calcium antagonists on calcium binding to cardiac sarcolemma

The action of four calcium antagonistic drugs, including verapamil, bepridil, nifedipine, and diltiazem, on calcium binding to cardiac sarcolemma from guinea pig was tested. It was found that verapamil (10^?6 to 10^?5 M) inhibited calcium binding to a great extent. Bepridil at the same concentrations was less potent than verapamil in the depression of calcium binding. Nifedipine and diltiazem did not affect sarcolemmal calcium binding. The differential action of the calcium antagonistic drugs was discussed.     

Interaction of Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Agonists and Antagonists with Adenosine Receptors

Abstract: We have confirmed our previous ( Fredholm et al. 1986a ) finding that the dihydropyridine calcium channel agonist Bay K 8644 can displace [³H]-R-PIA from its binding site, the adenosine A₁-receptor. Bay K 8644 had an apparent K_i of 5.2 × 10^-6 M. The effect was shared by the two dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonists nifedipine and felodipine (K_i 4.2 and 8.7 × 10^-6 M, respectively). By contrast, two non-dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonists, verapamil and diltiazem, did not affect binding. Bay K 8644 displaced [³H]-R-PIA from its binding sites in a solubilized preparation. [³H]-XAC, a novel, potent A₁-receptor antagonist ligand, was also displaced by the dihydropyridine compounds with a similar or slightly higher potency as the displacement of R-PIA. This suggests a direct interaction with the adenosine receptor rather than an effect on regulatory GTP-binding proteins. However, at 1 μmol/l neither Bay K 8644 nor nifedipine significantly attenuated cyclic AMP accumulation in rat hippocampi or the R-PIA-mediated adenylate cyclase inhibition. The results show that dihydropyridine compounds that act as agonists or antagonists on L-type calcium channels can also affect adenosine receptors. The potency of the compounds for this effect is much lower than their potency as calcium channel agonists or antagonists. The results may therefore be of more experimental than clinical significance.     

Effect of calcium antagonists (ω-conotoxin GVIA,verapamil, gallopamil,diltiazem) on bronchial smooth muscle contractions induced by soman

Summary The effect of the calcium antagonists -conotoxin GVIA, verapamil, gallopamil and diltiazem was investigated on in vitro bronchial smooth muscle contraction in the rat induced by the nerve agent soman. Soman inhibits the acetylcholinesterase activity irreversibly. The effect of the calcium channel antagonists on contractions induced by electrical field stimulation and carbachol was also investigated, in order to elucidate the mechanism by which calcium antagonists inhibit the soman induced contraction.-Conotoxin GVIA reduced the bronchial smooth muscle contraction induced by electrical field stimulation with an almost complete inhibition at approximately 1.0× 10^–6 M. The soman induced contraction was only inhibited by 15% at a concentration of 3.0× 10^–6 M -conotoxin GVIA. The organic calcium antagonists verapamil, gallopamil and diltiazem reduced both electrically and soman induced smooth muscle contraction. Complete inhibition of the contractions induced by soman was achieved at 1.4x 10^–4 M for verapamil and gallopamil, while diltiazem inhibited the contraction to 7% of control at 1.4 × 10^–4 M. Verapamil, gallopamil and diltiazem increased the EC₅₀ for carbachol significantly, while co-conotoxin GVIA had no effect. None of the calcium antagonists had any effect on the maximal contraction induced by carbachol. Verapamil, gallopamil and diltiazem blocked, however, sub-maximal contractions induced by carbachol (10^–7 -10^–5 M) resulting in a right-shift of the dose response curve.The results show that co-conotoxin GVIA inhibits the calcium-dependent release of acetylcholine which causes contraction of airway smooth muscle, while it has no effect on smooth muscle contraction induced by soman. Gallopamil, verapamil and diltiazem inhibit the contraction of bronchial smooth muscle following stimulation of postjunctional muscarinic receptors resulting from inhibition of the acetylcholinesterase activity by soman. Gallopamil and verapamil inhibit the contraction more potently than diltiazem. Correspondence to P. Aas at the above address     

Mibefradil- and ω-conotoxin GVIA-induced inhibition of noradrenaline release from the sympathetic nerves of the human heart

Segments of human right atrial appendages preincubated with [3H]noradrenaline and superfused with physiological salt solution containing desipramine and corticosterone were used to determine the effects of mibefradil, ω-conotoxin (ω-CTx) GVIA and nifedipine on tritium overflow evoked by transmural electrical stimulation. Mibefradil (which predominantly blocks T-type, and at lower potency also N-type, Ca²⁺ channels) at concentrations of 0.3–3μM reduced the electrically evoked tritium overflow in a reversible and concentration-dependent manner (IC_50%: 1μM), whereas 0.1–10μM nifedipine (a selective blocker of L-type channels) was ineffective. The evoked tritium overflow was almost abolished by 0.2μM ω-CTx GVIA (a selective blocker of N-type channels). It is concluded that noradrenaline release from cardiac sympathetic nerves is triggered by Ca²⁺-influx via N-type, but not L-type, Ca²⁺ channels and that the inhibitory effect of mibefradil at clinically relevant concentrations on noradrenaline release is probably due to its blocking action on N-type Ca²⁺ channels. This property of mibefradil is unique among the therapeutically applied Ca²⁺ channel blockers and may contribute to the slight negative chronotropic effect of the drug in vivo. Received: 24 September 1997 / Accepted: 3 November 1997     

Comparison of venodilatory effect of nicardipine, diltiazem, and verapamil in human subjects

Objective: Venodilatory effects of calcium antagonists have not been fully investigated, especially in human subjects. The present study was undertaken to compare the direct venodilatory effects of nicardipine, diltiazem and verapamil using the dorsal hand-vein technique. Methods: In eight healthy male subjects, increasing doses (0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 μg · min⁻¹) of these drugs and saline alone were infused, on four separate occasions, into the dorsal hand vein preconstricted with noradrenaline, and its diameter was measured by a linear-variable differential transformer. Result and conclusions: Diltiazem caused significant venodilation at a dose of 0.01 μg · min⁻¹ or more, while verapamil and nicardipine only caused this effect at 1 μg · min⁻¹ or more. The potency of the effect was diltiazem > verapamil > nicardipine. The venodilation at a dose of 1 μg · min⁻¹ was 41.7%, 16.2% and 8.5%, respectively, for each drug. These findings indicate that the venodilatory effect of diltiazem is larger than that of verapamil and nicardipine in human subjects. Received: 15 July 1997 / Accepted in revised form: 27 October 1997     

Calcium antagonists and calmodulin: effect of verapamil, nifedipine and diltiazem

The effect of three calcium antagonists (verapamil, nifedipine and diltiazem) on the calcium-induced activation of phosphodiesterase (a calmodulin dependent process) was investigated. Therapeutically relevant concentrations of verapamil, nifedipine and diltiazem were used. In the presence of calmodulin, phosphodiesterase activity was stimulated by calcium in the range 4 X 10(-6)-2.5 X 10(-5) M. Diltiazem (10(-6) M), verapamil (10(-6) M) and nifedipine (10(-7) and 10(-6) M) had no influence on phosphodiesterase activity in the presence or absence of calmodulin at any concentration of calcium employed. By contrast trifluoroperazine abolished the Ca2+ activation of the phosphodiesterase enzyme. From this it is concluded that while the interaction of calcium antagonists with calmodulin may be of interest in the study of the mode of action of calmodulin, it probably does not contribute to their vasodilator activity.     

Inhibitory effect of mibefradil on contractions induced by sympathetic neurotransmitter release in the rat tail artery

This study tested whether mibefradil exerts a stronger inhibitory effect than verapamil on sympathetic neurotransmitter release provoked by electrical field stimulation. Tail arteries (diameter 620+/-9 microm) were obtained from male Wistar rats. Ring segments of 2 mm length were mounted in an isometric wire myograph. After an appropriate period of equilibration and a priming procedure the vessels were either subjected to electrical field stimulation (EFS; frequency 0.25-4 Hz for 30 s) or a concentration-response curve was generated with either noradrenaline (concentration range 0.03-3 microM) or ATP (concentration 0.3 mM) which served as baseline parameters. EFS-induced contractions were stable and reproducible and were blocked by tetrodotoxin (1 microM), guanethidine (3 microM), and the combination of suramin (0.5 mM) and prazosin (3 microM). EFS-induced contractions (1 Hz) were almost completely inhibited by 10 microM mibefradil (97%) but only partly by 10 microM verapamil (73%). Log IC50 values were -5.6 for mibefradil and -6.6 for verapamil. Calcium antagonists were equipotent in inhibiting noradrenaline (maximum inhibition by mibefradil and verapamil by 70% and 75%, respectively; log IC50: -6.5 and -6.7, respectively) and ATP-mediated contractions (maximum inhibition by mibefradil and verapamil by 92% and 97%, respectively; log IC50: -6.5 and -7.0, respectively). Consequently mibefradil displays an additional effect on contractions provoked by EFS-induced sympathetic noradrenaline release which cannot be explained by L-type calcium channel blockade. Probably this effect of mibefradil is mediated by the blockade of prejunctional N-type calcium channels, thereby inhibiting sympathetic noradrenaline release. Since activation of the sympathetic nervous system in hypertension is both common and undesirable, a calcium antagonist displaying both L- and N-type calcium channel blocking activities, would have major advantages over calcium antagonists lacking N-type calcium channel blocking activities.     

Effects of Ca channel blockers on Ca loading induced by metabolic inhibition and hyperkalemia in cardiomyocytes

The effects of the L-type (nifedipine and verapamil) and the T-type (mibefradil) Ca²⁺ channel blockers on the increase in intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) induced by NaCN metabolic inhibition and hyperkalemia were examined in chicken cardiomyocytes using fluorescence imaging with Fura-2. NaCN induced a slow and sustained rise in [Ca²⁺]_i, which was not affected by pretreating the cells for 5 min with nifedipine, verapamil, or mibefradil at 100 nM or 10 μM. Pretreatment of the cells with 10 μM nifedipine, verapamil, or mibefradil for 5 min remarkably inhibited the K⁺-induced increase in [Ca²⁺]_i. These inhibitory effects diminished after 48-h pretreatment with nifedipine or verapamil but not with mibefradil. Ryanodine also induces an increase in [Ca²⁺]_i, and this effect was enhanced by 48-h pretreatment of the cells with 10 μM verapamil but not with 10 μM mibefradil. We conclude that the NaCN-induced increase in [Ca²⁺]_i is independent of the Ca²⁺ influx though the L-type or T-type Ca²⁺ channels. Chronic inhibition of the L-type Ca²⁺ channels but not T-type channels may enhance the ryanodine receptor-mediated Ca²⁺ release, which may be responsible for the development of tolerance to their inhibitory effects on K⁺-induced increase in [Ca²⁺]_i.     

Dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonists as antidepressant drugs in mice and rats

A pharmacological profile of the effects of nimodipine, nifedipine and nitrendipine (2.5-20 mg/kg p.o.) in several models which are indicative of possible antidepressant activity, was tested in mice and rats. These compounds, as well as verapamil (short-lasting effect), but not diltiazem, reduced the hypothermia induced by a large dose of apomorphine in mice. Nimodipine and nifedipine slightly increased the behavioural action of L-DOPA in mice, and nimodipine facilitated the action of imipramine in the L-DOPA test. Nimodipine, nifedipine, verapamil and diltiazem slightly reduced the clonidine-induced hypoactivity in rats. The hypothermia induced by reserpine or clonidine in mice was not changed by these drugs. Various antidepressants (imipramine, amitriptyline, citalopram, mianserin) used in the behavioural despair test in mice, in doses which were not effective by themselves, increased the immobility-reducing effect when given jointly with 1,4-dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonists (5 mg/kg). The above results indicate that the psychopharmacological profile of nimodipine, nifedipine and nitrendipine resembles that of antidepressants in some tests only; moreover, these results support the assumption that concomitant administration of antidepressants and 1,4-dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonists may result in a greater antidepressant efficacy.     

Differences between negative inotropic and vasodilator effects of calcium antagonists acting on extra- and intracellular calcium movements in rat and guinea-pig cardiac preparations

Summary In order to get more insight into the utilization of calcium in the mammalian heart and the influence of calcium antagonists on this process we have evaluated the negative inotropic and vasodilator effect of nifedipine, diltiazem, verapamil, bepridil and lidoflazine as well as of the intracellularly acting calcium antagonists ryanodine and TMB-8 in the presence of 0.9 and 1.8 mmol/l calcium in rat Langendorff hearts. The effect of ryanodine was also studied in guinea-pig Langendorff hearts. In addition, in rat and guinea-pig papillary muscles the effect of these drugs on the force of contraction was examined.With the exception of ryanodine and TMB-8 all calcium antagonists induced a pronounced coronary vasodilator effect. The rank order of potency for this effect was: nifedipine > verapamil = diltiazem = bepridil = lidoflazine in the presence of 0.9 mmol/l calcium. At a calcium concentration of 1.8 mmol/l nifedipine and verapamil proved more potent, whereas diltiazem was less active. All calcium antagonists completely suppressed the development of the left ventricular pressure. At a calcium concentration of 0.9 mmol/l the potency order for this effect was: ryanodine > nifedipine = verapamil > diltiazem = bepridil = lidoflazine > TMB-8. In the presence of 1.8 mmol/l calcium the concentration-response curves for reduction of the left ventricular pressure by nifedipine, verapamil and diltiazem slightly shifted to the right. In contrast to all calcium antagonists investigated, in guinea-pig Langendorff hearts ryanodine only partially decreased the left ventricular pressure.In rat papillary muscles ryanodine nearly completely reduced the force of contraction, whereas nifedipine only partially inhibited the force of contraction. Lidoflazine only slightly affected the force of contraction. In guinea-pig papillary muscles all drugs partially decreased the force of contraction. Lidoflazine, however, was more effective than in rat papillary muscles. In rat and guinea-pig papillary muscles the force of contraction was fully suppressed by a combination of nifedipine and ryanodine.The results of the present study suggest that in the rat heart extracellular calcium plays a major role in the maintenance of the coronary vascular tone. The development of contractile force relies on the release of activator calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum but also requires the influx of calcium through dihydropyridine-sensitive channels. In the guinea-pig heart activator calcium may also be released from a source complementary to the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Lidoflazine displays certain selectivity towards this particular calcium pool.Preliminary results have been presented at the Spring Meeting of the German Pharmacological and Toxicological Society, 14–17 March, 1989, Mainz (Hugtenburg et al. 1989a)     

Comparative Study on the Effect of Calcium Channel Blockers on Basal and Parathyroid Hormone-Induced Bone Resorption in vitro

Abstract: A number of clinical and experimental studies suggest that the effects of calcium channel blockers are not limited to the cardiovascular system but might also involve skeletal calcium metabolism due to the presence of L-type calcium channels in osteoblastic cells. We therefore investigated the influence of calcium channel blockers of the dihydropyridine type (nifedipine, amlodipine) as well as of the phenylalkylamine type (verapamil, gallopamil) on basal and parathyroid hormone-induced bone resorption utilizing organ-cultured neonatal mouse calvaria. Only at 10^-4 M, amlodipine, verapamil and gallopamil reduced basal and parathyroid hormone-induced resorption In contrast, nifedipine, between 10^-6–10^-4 M, exhibited a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on parathyroid hormone-related bone resorption by up to 50%. When calvariae were cultured for 48 hr in the presence of inhibitory concentrations of the calcium channel blockers and then stimulated with parathyroid hormone, only parietal bones pretreated with nifedipine remained completely responsive to the bone resorbing action of the hormone.