The effects of the dihydropyridine calcium channel entry blockers nifedipine and nilvadipine on colonic contractions were determined in vitro and in vivo. In circular muscle strips prepared from the canine proximal colon, cumulative concentration-response curves were generated to potassium chloride (KCl), acetylcholine (ACh) and substance P, and the effects of electrical field stimulation were determined. Responses to KCl and ACh were examined in circular muscle strips prepared from the monkey proximal and distal colon. Nifedipine (10(-8) - 10(-6) M) significantly decreased KCl-induced contractions, whereas equimolar concentrations of nilvadipine were less effective at modifying these responses. Both calcium channel entry blockers produced similar significant decreases in ACh, substance P and electrical field stimulation contractions. In anesthetized dogs, strain gauge force transducers were oriented to record proximal colonic circular muscle contractions. Colonic contractions to i.a. infusions of ACh, cholecystokinin-(26-33) and substance P were produced in a small segment of the proximal colon. Nifedipine and nilvadipine (200 micrograms/kg i.v.) significantly decreased maximal ACh contractions. Nilvadipine also decreased maximum cholecystokinin-(26-33) and substance P contractions. Both calcium channel entry blockers decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure significantly at 100 micrograms/kg i.v. These results indicate that nifedipine and nilvadipine are equieffective at reducing colonic contractile activity to a variety of colonic stimulants and illustrate the importance of extracellular calcium in the mediation of colonic motility