title: Comparison of L-type calcium channel blockade by nifedipine and/or cadmium in guinea pig ventricular myocytes.
abstract: We tested the assumption that nifedipine blocks L-type calcium current [I(Ca(L))] at +10 mV and unmasks Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange-triggered contractions in guinea pig isolated ventricular myocytes. Voltage-clamp pulses elicited I(Ca(L)) at +10 mV and evoked contractions in myocytes superfused with Tyrode's solution (35 degrees C). Nifedipine blocked I(Ca(L)) with an IC(50) of 0.3 microM; this decreased to 50 nM at a holding potential of -40 mV, indicating preferential block of inactivated L-type Ca(2+) channels. Use-independent block of I(Ca(L)) increased with concentration (10-100 microM) and application time when nifedipine was rapidly applied (t(1/2) = approximately 0.2 s) during rest intervals (5-30 s). The fraction of use-dependent block of I(Ca(L)) diminished with increasing drug concentration. Nifedipine also accelerated I(Ca(L)) inactivation on the first test pulse. The combination of 30 microM nifedipine/30 microM Cd(2+) (Nif 30/Cd 30) was as effective as 100 microM nifedipine to suppress I(Ca(L)) on the first test pulse at +10 mV. The incidence of complete block of contractions, as for complete block of I(Ca(L)), increased as a function of nifedipine concentration and application time. Neither nifedipine nor Nif 30/Cd 30 affected Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange current at +10 to +100 mV. Contractions at +100 mV, although as large as those at +10 mV, were delayed in onset and resistant to nifedipine or Nif 30/Cd 30. We conclude that nifedipine-sensitive I(Ca(L)) triggers contractions at +10 mV, whereas nifedipine-resistant Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange current initiates those at +100 mV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington 06030, USA.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Pappano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019831:Sodium-Calcium Exchanger / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D019831:Sodium-Calcium Exchanger; D002104:Cadmium; D009543:Nifedipine