Antagonistic effects of dihydropyridines and verapamil on CaCl2 and 5-HT-evoked contraction in porcine coronary artery.

In porcine coronary arterial strips, the antagonistic effects of nifedipine (Nif), nimodipine (Nim), nicardipine (Nic), felodipine (Fel), and verapamil (Ver) to CaCl2-evoked contraction in Ca(2+)-free, K(+)-depolarized solution were greater than that to 5-HT. The order of potency (pD2') was Nif (9.1) greater than Fel (8.4) greater than Nim (7.9) greater than Nic (7.8) greater than Ver (7.2) to CaCl2 and Nif (8.3) greater than Nim (7.5) greater than Fel (6.8) greater than Ver (5.6) greater than Nic (5.3) to 5-HT. Ver inhibited 2 components of 5-HT-evoked contraction in Ca(2+)-free solution, but Fel inhibited only extracellular Ca(2+)-dependent contraction, suggesting that their action modes are different.