British Journal of Anaesthesia, 2003, Vol. 90, No. 5 671-675
© 2003 The Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia
Laboratory Investigations |
Effects of three different L-type Ca2+ entry blockers on airway constriction induced by muscarinic receptor stimulation
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Hirosaki, School of Medicine, Hirosaki 036-8562, Japan
Corresponding author. E-mail: masuika@cc.hirosaki-u.ac.jp
Background. The crucial role of L-type Ca2+ channels in airway smooth muscle contraction suggests that these channels could be an important therapeutic target. There are three separate drug binding sites on this channel: those for dihydropyridines, benzothiazepines and phenyl alkylamines. In this study, we examined the effects of the dihydropyridines nifedipine and nicardipine, the benzothiazepine diltiazem, and the phenylalkylamine verapamil on airway constriction.
Methods. Tension of guinea-pig tracheal strips was measured isometrically in vitro with a force displacement transducer. Strips were precontracted with carbachol 107 M with or without 4-aminopyridine 103 M, a voltage-sensitive K+ channel blocker. Then, nifedipine 108104 M, diltiazem 1083x104 M or verapamil 1083x104 M was added cumulatively to the organ bath (n=6 each). The bronchial cross-sectional area of pentobarbital-anaesthetized dogs was assessed using a bronchoscopy method. Bronchoconstriction was elicited with methacholine 0.5 µg kg1 plus 5 µg kg1 min1, and then nicardipine 01000 µg kg1, diltiazem 03000 µg kg1 or verapamil 03000 µg kg1 were given i.v. (n=7 each).
Results. In the in vitro experiments, nifedipine and diltiazem fully reversed carbachol-mediated tracheal contraction with logIC50 values of 4.76 (SEM 0.22) (mean 17.5 µM) and 4.60 (0.33) (mean 24.8 µM), respectively. Although verapamil 106104 M reversed the contraction by 87.2%, strip tension re-increased by 18.1% following maximal relaxation with verapamil 3x104 M. This re-increase was almost fully abolished by pretreatment with 4-aminopyridine. In the in vivo experiments, nicardipine and diltiazem dose-dependently reversed methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction, with logID50 values of 3.22 (0.05) (mean 0.60 mg kg1) and 1.85 (0.32) (mean 14.0 mg kg1), respectively. Verapamil worsened methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction.
Conclusions. Although supraclinical doses of dihydropyridines and benzothiazepines can produce airway relaxant effects, these agents are unlikely to be used in the treatment of bronchoconstriction. In addition, verapamil may aggravate airway constriction.
Br J Anaesth 2003; 90: 6715
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