Effects of S-312, a new calcium antagonist, on the mechanical and electrophysiological responses of isolated cardiovascular preparations

S-312, a new calcium antagonist with a bicyclic dihydrothienopyridine structure, potently relaxed the helical strips of various isolated rabbit arteries precontracted with high K+-depolarization, serotonin (5-HT) and U46619 (thromboxane A2 analogue), and it competitively inhibited Ca++-induced contractions in depolarized basilar and femoral arteries. These effects of S-312 were more potent than nifedipine and almost comparable to or slightly more potent than those of nicardipine. In comparison with nifedipine and nicardipine, the calcium antagonistic effect and the relaxant effect on 5-HT-induced contractions of S-312 were most prominent in the basilar artery. The potent vasodilating action of S-312 in the high K+-depolarized basilar artery was not easily reversed by washing. S-312 did not affect Ca++-induced contraction in the skinned fiber of guinea pig taenia caecum. The negative inotropic effect of S-312 in isolated guinea pig left atria was much less potent than those of nifedipine and nicardipine. S-312 above 10(-7) M preferentially increased AV nodal conduction time in Langendorff-perfused isolated rabbit hearts; and above 3 x 10(-8) M, it mainly decreased the maximum upstroke velocity of the action potential in isolated rabbit sinus node preparations. In summary, the present results indicate that S-312 is a potent new calcium antagonist possessing vasculoselectivity, especially for cerebral vessels.