title: Differential effects of organic calcium-channel blockers on diastolic SR calcium-handling in the frog heart.
abstract: 1. Gradual loss of sarcoplasmic reticular (SR) calcium during a rest-period is responsible for the rest-induced decay (RID) of force in mammalian myocardium. Effect of verapamil and diltiazem on a similar RID in the frog myocardium suggests a new mechanism of action of these drugs. 2. Strips of frog-ventricle were paced at 0.2 Hz and the rhythm was interrupted by varying rest-periods ranging from 10 to 180 s. In control conditions, the amplitude of the post-rest beat was significantly lower than that of the pre-rest beat for rest-periods more than 40 s (RID). 3. Verapamil and diltiazem (which are organic calcium-channel blockers (OCCB)) changed the pattern of RID in the control solution to a 'rest-induced potentiation' (RIP) in the same preparation while another OCCB nifedipine and the inorganic calcium-channel blocker cadmium did not alter the post-rest phenomenon. 4. We propose that verapamil and diltiazem produce an RIP due to either blockade of SR calcium-leak during rest or enhancement of SR calcium-uptake during rest.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Christian Medical College, Vellore 632 002, Tamilnadu, India. sathya@cmcvellore.ac.in
authors.forename: Sathya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Subramani
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vijayanand
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tharion
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019256:Cadmium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003971:Diastole / Q000502:physiology; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000494:pharmacology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011898:Ranidae; D012519:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D016276:Ventricular Function; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D014700:Verapamil; D004110:Diltiazem; D009543:Nifedipine; D019256:Cadmium Chloride; D002118:Calcium