title: Interactions of magnesium and verapamil on tone and contractility of vascular smooth muscle.
abstract: Previous studies on isolated blood vessels indicate that (1) withdrawal of magnesium ([Mg2+]0) induces calcium-dependent contractile responses, and (2) Mg2+]0 and verapamil (VE) inhibit calcium influx across the cell membrane. The present study, using isolated rat aortic strips and portal veins, was designed to assess the interactions of [Mg2+]0 and VE on increases in active tension and contractility induced by withdrawal of [Mg2+]0.[Mg2+]0 was found to: (1) enhance VE-induced inhibition of portal vein amplitude, and (2) antagonize VE-induced enhanced frequency of spontaneous phasic contractions in portal veins. Both [Mg2+]0 and VE could prevent and reverse the increases in active tension developed in aortic smooth muscle upon removal of [Mg2+]0.[Mg2+]0 markedly potentiated the inhibitory effect of verapamil on calcium-induced contractions of K+-depolarized aorta but not in K+-depolarized portal vein. This synergistic effect in aortal could be due to the influence of Mg and VE at the membrane and/or the influence of Mg at intracellular sites resulting in decreased levels of functional (activator) cytoplasmic Ca2+. On the other hand, the lack of synergism in portal vein could indicate that both of these agents might be inactivating the same membrane channels involved in calcium influx.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009129:Muscle Tonus / Q000187:drug effects; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014700:Verapamil; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium