Cardiac Calcium Channels Research Articles

Diltiazem and verapamil preferentially block inactivated cardiac calcium channels.

Diltiazem has been proposed to act by blocking calcium channels of cardiac and smooth muscle since it has pharmacological [12-14] and clinical [10] effects that resemble those of verapamil, an agent that has been shown to block these channels [3]. However, block of the slow inward current by diltiazem has not been directly demonstrated. In fact, it has been suggested that diltiazem has an entirely different mechanism of action [7]. We therefore studied the blocking effects of diltiazem and verapamil on cardiac calcium channels by measuring the slow inward current in voltage-clamped ferret myocardium. Both drugs blocked the slow inward current in a use-dependent fashion, i.e. the block was enhanced by increased frequency of activating clamps and by more positive holding potentials. However, we found that short single activating clamps resulted in minimal block, whereas prolonging the clamp step progressively enhanced the blockade. Thus, a single long clamp caused as much blockade as a train of shorter pulses. These results demonstrate that diltiazem and verapamil block the slow inward current by binding to calcium channels in a state-dependent fashion, i.e. inactivated channels have a high affinity for the drugs, while rested and open channels have a lower affinity.

Absence of blocking effects on cardiac slow calcium channels by the intracellular calcium antagonist 2-n-propyl-3-dimethylamino-5,6-methylenedioxyindene.

Extensive pharmacological evidence supports the contention that 2-n-propyl-3-dimethylamino-5,6-methylenedioxyindene hydrochloride (pr-MDI) is a calcium antagonist with a predominantly intracellular site of action. On the other hand, electro-physiological evidence points to a possible membrane slow inward calcium channel blocking property of this agent. To gain further insight as to the site of action of pr-MDI, the interactions between the negative inotropic action of this agent and the positive inotropic actions of excess extracellular calcium (which directly penetrates the myocardial cells through the slow calcium channels), isoproterenol (which indirectly augments calcium influx through the slow calcium channels), and ouabain (which enhances calcium influx through membrane calcium entry routes distinct from the slow calcium channels) were investigated in the isolated, electrically drive guinea pig left atrium. Although excess extracellular calcium, isoproterenol, and ouabain reversed the negative inotropic effect of pr-MDI, an analysis of the concentration-response relationships to all three positive inotropic agents in the presence and the absence of pr-MDI demonstrated that this agent did not significantly inhibit the contractile effects of calcium, isoproterenol, or ouabain, at pr-MDI concentrations which exhibit intrinsic negative inotropic effects. It is concluded that pr-MDI does not block the membrane slow inward calcium channel nor other presumptive membrane routes of calcium entry into myocardial cells at concentrations of 10(-4) M or less. At very high concentrations (3 X 10(-4) M) some inhibition of slow channel calcium influx may occur.

The Slow Inward Current and Cardiac Arrhythmias

This is a timely and unique publication. Despite its 1980 copyright and the two years that have passed since its preparation, the book retains its accuracy and immediacy. It represents a new compilation of information regarding the kinetically slow inward current. Coverage of the subject is remarkably complete. This text will be required reading as an important and singular reference source for any basic or clinical scientist who intends to study the cardiac calcium channel. Since Reuter and other investigators convincingly demonstrated 15 years ago the existence of a small, prolonged inward current occurring during the plateau of the cardiac action potential, activated at low transmembrane potentials and dependent on calcium rather than sodium ion, a huge quantity of research data characterizing this current has been amassed. These data are summarized and interpreted succinctly in this book by 37 respected investigators who are, in fact, largely responsible for the existence