Inhibitory effect of calcium channel blockers on proliferation of human glioma cells in vitro.
The effects of 2 specific calcium channel blockers, verapamil and nimodipine, on the proliferation of human glioma tumour cells were investigated in vitro. Tumour tissues for primary cell cultures were obtained bioptically from 3 patients with the histopathological diagnosis of glioblastoma. The [3H]-thymidine incorporation into glioma tumour cells DNA was used as a sensitive index of the cell proliferation. It was found that verapamil (10(-4)-10(-5) M) and nimodipine (10(-4)-10(-6) M) significantly inhibited the [3H]-thymidine uptake in a dose-related manner. The inhibitory effect of both calcium channel antagonists was reversed by simultaneous addition of calcium chloride (5 x 10(-3) M). These results indicate that verapamil and nimodipine may exert an antiproliferative effect on glioma cells growth acting through a blockade of specific voltage-dependent calcium channels.
Kunert-Radek
J
J
Institute of Endocrinology, Medical Academy of Lodz, Poland.
Stepien
H
H
Radek
A
A
Lyson
K
K
Pawlikowski
M
M
D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D005910:Glioma; D006801:Humans; D009553:Nimodipine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013936:Thymidine; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D009553:Nimodipine; D014700:Verapamil; D002118:Calcium; D013936:Thymidine