title: Effect of calcium channel blockers on stress-induced visceral, endocrinological and immune responses.
abstract: In the present study effects of five commonly used calcium channel blockers (CCBs) belonging to different chemical classes have been investigated on stress-induced modulation of some visceral, endocrinological and immunological parameters in rats and mice. Restraint stress (RS) produced gastric mucosal lesions, increased plasma corticosterone levels and reduced antiSRBC antibody titre, a measure of humoral immune response and % leucocyte migration inhibition (% LMI) and foot pad thickness, measures of cell-mediated immunity. Nimodipine (10, 20 40 mg/kg, i.p.) and flunarizine (10, 20, 40 mg/kg, i.p.) antagonised the effect of RS on gastric ulcerogenesis and plasma corticosterone levels but failed to modulate the stress-induced suppression of both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Thus, CCBs appear to modulate stress-induced visceral, endocrinological and immune responses, albeit in a differential manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University College of Medical Sciences and G.T.B. Hospital, 110 095 Delhi.
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Mediratta
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
keywords: Corticosterone levels; Gastric ulcerogenesis; Immune responses; Restraint stress