title: Comparative effects of a new calcium channel antagonist, mepirodipine, on rabbit spontaneously beating sino-atrial node cells.
abstract: The effects of mepirodipine, a new 1,4-dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, on the membrane potentials were examined on spontaneously beating rabbit sino-atrial (SA) node cells and on the membrane currents under voltage-clamped conditions. Mepirodipine 3 x 10(-9) M significantly decreased the action potential amplitude and the maximum rate of depolarization. The action potential duration and the cycle length were prolonged. Sinus arrest occurred at 10(-8) M in all of five preparations. In voltage-clamped SA node cells, mepirodipine in concentrations higher than 3 x 10(-9) M decreased the slow inward current. It did not affect the steady state outward current and the hyperpolarization-activated inward current. Verapamil, diltiazem and nifedipine produced similar changes in the action potential parameters, but at a concentration of 10(-6) M. At concentrations higher than 10(-5) M, they elicited sinus arrest. These results suggest that mepirodipine is a more potent inhibitor of spontaneous calcium-dependent SA node impulse generation than the three other calcium antagonists tested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Yamanashi Medical College, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D012849:Sinoatrial Node / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; C050699:mepirodipine; D014700:Verapamil; D004110:Diltiazem; D009543:Nifedipine