Effect of the calcium antagonist verapamil on human leucocyte sodium transport in vitro.
Sodium efflux rate constants and intracellular sodium were measured in leucocytes from healthy volunteers in the presence and absence of the calcium antagonist verapamil hydrochloride. Verapamil stimulated sodium pump activity and this effect was dependent on the presence of external calcium. Verapamil has been reported to reverse the abnormality of sodium transport seen in leucocytes from patients with essential hypertension and the present study demonstrates that sodium pump activity in leucocytes from control subjects is also stimulated by exposure to verapamil in vitro. This direct cellular effect appears to be due to the calcium antagonist properties of the drug.
D001693:Biological Transport, Active / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood*; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology*
D012964:Sodium; D014700:Verapamil