Biomaterial Database

The effect of nifedipine on isolated human peripheral vessels. 1978

E Mikkelsen, and K E Andersson, and O L Pedersen

Isometric tension was recorded in ring preparations of human peripherial arteries and veins contracted by potassium (127mM) and noradrenaline (1.8 X 10(-5)M). In the veins, nifedipine had a marked relaxing effect on contractions induced by both agents, and also reduced the contractile amplitude when added prior to stimulation. The inhibiting effect of nifedipine was more marked on the potassium than on the noradrenaline-evoked responses. This was in contrast to verapamil, which inhibited the noradrenaline-induced contractions significantly more, than those produced by potassium. After immersion of the vein preparations in calcium-free medium for 30 min., the potassium contracture decreased to 26+/2.0% (mean +/ S.E.M.) of the response in normal Krebs solution, and the noradrenaline-evoked to 7.1+/0.8%. The responses to both agents were completely restored when the calcium concentration was increased from 0 to 4 mM. Nifedipine (1.5X10(-7)M) depressed the potassium contracture in calcium-free solution to 7.3+/1.6%, and the noradrenaline response to 5.5+/1.6%; on addition of calcium, the response elicited by potassium increased to 16+/1.7%, and that by noradrenaline to 56+/8.6%. Compared with its actions on the veins, the effect of nifedipine on the arterial preparations was less pronounced. In the arteries, too, the inhibiting effect of nifedipine was significantly more pronounced on the potassium than on the noradrenaline-induced contraction. Immersion for 30 min. in calcium-free medium reduced the response to potassium to 61+/6.0% and that to noradrenaline to 68+/5.6% of the control in normal Krebs. Nifedipine (2.9X10(-7)M) further reduced the potassium contraction to 20+/4.0%; the response to noradrenaline was unaffected, being 74+/6.4% of the control.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009119	Muscle Contraction	A process leading to shortening and/or development of tension in muscle tissue. Muscle contraction occurs by a sliding filament mechanism whereby actin filaments slide inward among the myosin filaments.	Inotropism,Muscular Contraction,Contraction, Muscle,Contraction, Muscular,Contractions, Muscle,Contractions, Muscular,Inotropisms,Muscle Contractions,Muscular Contractions
D009126	Muscle Relaxation	That phase of a muscle twitch during which a muscle returns to a resting position.	Muscle Relaxations,Relaxation, Muscle,Relaxations, Muscle
D009130	Muscle, Smooth	Unstriated and unstriped muscle, one of the muscles of the internal organs, blood vessels, hair follicles, etc. Contractile elements are elongated, usually spindle-shaped cells with centrally located nuclei. Smooth muscle fibers are bound together into sheets or bundles by reticular fibers and frequently elastic nets are also abundant. (From Stedman, 25th ed)	Muscle, Involuntary,Smooth Muscle,Involuntary Muscle,Involuntary Muscles,Muscles, Involuntary,Muscles, Smooth,Smooth Muscles
D009543	Nifedipine	A potent vasodilator agent with calcium antagonistic action. It is a useful anti-anginal agent that also lowers blood pressure.	Adalat,BAY-a-1040,Bay-1040,Cordipin,Cordipine,Corinfar,Fenigidin,Korinfar,Nifangin,Nifedipine Monohydrochloride,Nifedipine-GTIS,Procardia,Procardia XL,Vascard,BAY a 1040,BAYa1040,Bay 1040,Bay1040,Monohydrochloride, Nifedipine,Nifedipine GTIS
D009638	Norepinephrine	Precursor of epinephrine that is secreted by the ADRENAL MEDULLA and is a widespread central and autonomic neurotransmitter. Norepinephrine is the principal transmitter of most postganglionic sympathetic fibers, and of the diffuse projection system in the brain that arises from the LOCUS CERULEUS. It is also found in plants and is used pharmacologically as a sympathomimetic.	Levarterenol,Levonorepinephrine,Noradrenaline,Arterenol,Levonor,Levophed,Levophed Bitartrate,Noradrenaline Bitartrate,Noradrénaline tartrate renaudin,Norepinephrin d-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine Bitartrate,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride, (+,-)-Isomer,Norepinephrine d-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), (+,-)-Isomer,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), Monohydrate,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), Monohydrate, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:2),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine, (+,-)-Isomer
D011188	Potassium	An element in the alkali group of metals with an atomic symbol K, atomic number 19, and atomic weight 39.10. It is the chief cation in the intracellular fluid of muscle and other cells. Potassium ion is a strong electrolyte that plays a significant role in the regulation of fluid volume and maintenance of the WATER-ELECTROLYTE BALANCE.
D011725	Pyridines	Compounds with a six membered aromatic ring containing NITROGEN. The saturated version is PIPERIDINES.
D002118	Calcium	A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes.	Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation