The influence of Ca2+ antagonists on the ciliary activity of the guinea pig trachea.
The ciliary activity of the guinea pig tracheal respiratory epithelium was measured using a photoelectric device. Fourteen animals were administered 75 mg diltiazem/kg body weight 2 days, 1 day and 4 h prior to the investigation. Thirteen animals served as controls. In the pretreated group, the mean ciliary stroke frequency (13.4 +/- 3.0 Hz) was significantly lower (P = 0.02) than in the control group (16.6 +/- 3.7 Hz). The application of aerosolized 0.3 mmol/l nifedipine solution on the tracheal preparations of the control animals also significantly reduced the stroke frequency (P = 0.02). The ciliary activity never dropped beyond a frequency of about 8 Hz. The most probable interpretation of these results is a modulating effect of Ca2+ antagonists on ciliary activity by blocking voltage-gated calcium channels.
Riechelmann
H
H
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Federal Republic of Germany.
Mann
W
W
Maurer
J
J
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002923:Cilia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007552:Isotonic Solutions / Q000494:pharmacology; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance / Q000187:drug effects; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077331:Ringer's Solution; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*
D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D000077331:Ringer's Solution; D004110:Diltiazem; D009543:Nifedipine; D002118:Calcium