title: Effects of calcium antagonists on K(+)-induced contraction in isolated aorta from diabetic and age-matched control rats.
abstract: The effects of nifedipine, verapamil and diltiazem on K(+)-induced contraction were investigated in isolated aortic rings from diabetic and age-matched control rats. Six weeks after streptozotocin injection there was no significant difference between the maximum isometric contraction to KCl (80 mmol/l), when expressed per milligram tissue weight, in aortic rings from diabetic rats and those from controls. A concentration-dependent inhibition of the K(+)-induced contraction was observed for the three Ca antagonists in aortic rings from both diabetic and age-matched control rats. Notably, the K(+)-induced contraction in aortic preparations from diabetic rats was more sensitive to nifedipine compared to control preparations (pD2: 8.61 vs. 8.31, p < 0.05), while no significant change in sensitivity towards verapamil (pD2: 6.99 vs. 6.92, p > 0.05) or diltiazem (pD2: 6.33 vs. 6.28, p > 0.05) could be demonstrated. Our data indicate a greater interference of nifedipine with voltage-operated channels in diabetic aortas compared with controls. Since a similar antispasmodic activity was found for diltiazem and verapamil it might be specific for dihydropyridine Ca antagonists.
authors: Department of Pharmacotherapy, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: J B
authors: JB
authors: Heijnis
authors: P A
authors: PA
authors: van Zwieten
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D014700:Verapamil; D004110:Diltiazem; D009543:Nifedipine; D011188:Potassium