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The effects of calcium channel inhibitors and other procedures affecting calcium translocation on drug‐induced rhythmic contractions in the rat vas deferens
Author(s) -
Hay D.W.P.,
Wadsworth R.M.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1983.tb11007.x
Subject(s) - methoxamine , nifedipine , verapamil , barium , endocrinology , medicine , vas deferens , calcium , calcium channel , chemistry , biology , agonist , receptor , inorganic chemistry
1 In the rat isolated vas deferens, methoxamine 8.1 μ m produced an initial phasic response that declined towards baseline and was followed by rhythmic contractions that continued until wash‐out. These responses were predominant in the epididymal half. BaCl 2 1 m m produced a similar type of response which was not mediated by noradrenaline release or activation of α‐adrenoceptors. The barium responses were similar in the epididymal and prostatic halves. 2 Incubation in nominally Ca 2+ ‐free solution caused abolition or near abolition of rhythmic contractions produced by barium or methoxamine. The initial phasic response to methoxamine was abolished in Ca 2+ ‐free solution, whereas that produced by barium persisted. 3 Rhythmic contractions produced by methoxamine or barium were inhibited by Mg 2+ (2.4–20 m m ) and by La 3+ (1–5 m m ). Mg 2+ had selectivity for inhibition of the frequency of methoxamine‐ but not barium‐induced rhythmic contractions. 4 Despite their dependence on [Ca 2+ ] o , barium‐ and methoxamine‐induced rhythmic contractions were resistant to inhibition by calcium channel inhibitors. Verapamil, nifedipine and flunarazine inhibited the amplitude of rhythmic contractions more readily than the frequency (methoxamine IC 50 for verapamil: amplitude = 29.8 ± 5.40 μ m , n = 6, frequency = 96.7 ± 31.0 μ m , n = 5, for nifedipine: amplitude = 2.42 ± 0.34 μ m , n = 7, frequency = 3.24 ± 0.75 μ m , n = 7, and for flunarizine: amplitude = 15.9 ± 5.95 μ m , n = 7, frequency = 153 ± 28.6 μ m , n = 7). There was no differentiation between inhibition of methoxamine and barium‐induced responses. 5 Like Mg 2+ , methoxyverapamil selectively inhibited the frequency of methoxamine‐induced contractions (IC 50 : amplitude = 16.8 ± 2.86 μ m , n = 5, frequency = 2.07 ± 0.81 μ m , n = 5) but not barium‐induced contractions (IC 50 : amplitude = 13.9 ± 1.95 μ m , n = 5, frequency = 48.5 ± 8.98 μ m , n = 5). 6 Diazoxide (43.3–2167 μ m ) and nitroprusside (3.36–6712 μ m ) had only a small effect on barium contractions, but produced a dose‐related reduction in the amplitude of methoxamine‐induced responses. Diazoxide and nitroprusside caused methoxamine contractions to occur in groups, although they had no effect on their overall frequency. 7 It is concluded that barium‐ and methoxamine‐induced rhythmic contractions in the rat vas deferens are mediated by the entry of [Ca 2+ ] o via membrane calcium channels that have a lower affinity (10–100 ×) for calcium channel inhibitors than those mediating the KCl response. Channels activated by methoxamine are concentrated in the epididymal half, whereas those opened by barium are evenly distributed. However, although responses to methoxamine and barium are similar in form, differences in the effects of some of the drugs tested, together with the results of previous studies, indicate that they produce contractions by different mechanisms.