The effect of calcium channel antagonists on peripheral neurones

Immunohistochemical localization of voltage-activated calcium channels in the rat oesophagus

Voltage-activated calcium channels play an important role in the physiology of the enteric nervous system. To determine which types of voltage-activated calcium channels are present in the rat oesophagus, an immunohistochemical study was performed using specific antibodies for the alpha1 subunits of Cav2.1 (P/Q-type), Cav2.2 (N-type), Cav1.2 and Cav1.3 (L-type) calcium channels. All myenteric cell bodies showed Cav2.2 immunoreactivity, whereas labelling for this N-type channel was absent in nerve fibres. Cav1.2 immunoreactivity was found on nerve fibres in the myenteric plexus and on fibres innervating the striated muscle of the rat oesophagus, whereas no labelling was detected on neuronal somata. Immunoreactivity against Cav1.3 was not detected in the myenteric plexus or at the level of the striated muscle. Labelling for Cav2.1 was absent at the level of the myenteric plexus, but present in the striated muscle layer at the level of the motor endplates. Comparison with recent literature data from rat small intestine reveals region-specific distribution patterns of the various subtypes of voltage-activated calcium channels within the enteric nervous system. In addition, the present immunohistochemical data corroborate our physiological data (see accompanying paper), which indicate that the Cav2.2 (N-type) channel is the predominant channel involved in the generation of the calcium-dependent action potential evoked by intrasomatic depolarizing current pulses in all rat oesophageal myenteric neurones.

Effect of chronic administration of dihydropyridine Ca2+ channel ligands on sufentanil-induced tolerance to mu- and kappa-opioid agonists in the guinea pig ileum myenteric plexus

The present investigation was aimed at elucidating if the entry of Ca2+ plays a role in the development of tolerance to mu- and kappa-opioid agonists in the guinea pig ileum myenteric plexus. For this purpose, the influence of the L-type Ca2+ channel modulators nimodipine (Ca2+ blocker) and Bay K 8644 (Ca2+ activator) on the expression of tolerance to the inhibitory effects of mu- and kappa-opioid agonists in the ileum of guinea pigs rendered tolerant to sufentanil was investigated. Chronic perfusion of guinea pigs with nimodipine (2 micrograms/microliter/h for 7 days) or Bay K 8644 (0.5 microgram/microliter/h for 7 days) did not cause any modification of the height of contractions induced by electrical stimulation of the myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle (MPLM) strip from naive animals. Tolerance to sufentanil (a selective mu-agonist) was induced by s.c. implantation of osmotic minipumps for 7 days, which deliver at 2 micrograms/microliter/h. Control groups received saline. Tolerance to sufentanil as well as to U-50,488H (selective kappa-agonist) was observed following chronic treatment with sufentanil and was revealed as a rightward shift of the concentration-response curves. Chronic perfusion of guinea pigs with the Ca2+ antagonist nimodipine concurrently with chronic sufentanil, markedly blocked the expression of tolerance to sufentanil, as well as the cross-tolerance between sufentanil and U-50,488H. On the contrary, when guinea pigs were perfused with the Ca2+ agonist Bay K 8644 concurrently with sufentanil, it enhanced the magnitude of tolerance to both sufentanil and U-50,488H. These results suggest that, in guinea pig ileum, chronic exposure to opioids may involve the activation of L-type Ca2+ channel, which would indicate that intracellular Ca2+ may be one of the final pathways through which myenteric neurons adapt to the chronic opioid exposure.

Calcium-channel blockers and gastrointestinal motility: basic and clinical aspects

Several calcium-channel blockers currently in use for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders have recently been tested for their effects on gastrointestinal motility. The rationale for this approach centers on the concept that calcium-channel blockers are at least as potent in inhibiting intestinal smooth muscle as in relaxing vascular smooth muscle. This review will give an outline of the most recent findings on the role of calcium and calcium channels in smooth muscle and neuronal function in the digestive system. It will also consider the mechanisms by which calcium-channel blockers may affect gastrointestinal motility and assess potential clinical applications in gastroenterology. The main goal for researchers in this field will be the development of gut-selective agents, with no cardiovascular side effects.

Selective blockade of spinal reflexes by omega-conotoxin in the isolated spinal cord of the neonatal rat

High-voltage-activated calcium currents can be pharmacologically separated into two components: omega-conotoxin-sensitive, dihydropyridine resistant (N-type) and dihydropyridine sensitive, omega-conotoxin-resistant (L-type). In the present study, omega-conotoxin completely blocked spinal monosynaptic responses and long-latency electrically evoked polysynaptic reflexes were 93% blocked. Short-latency electrically evoked and capsaicin-evoked polysynaptic reflexes were partially blocked (39 and 37% block, respectively). Nifedipine, a dihydropyridine type antagonist, had no effect on any evoked responses and Bay K 8644, a dihydropyridine agonist, only increased spontaneous firing. Dynorphin A blocks N currents, but its depressant effects were not altered by irreversible blockade of omega-conotoxin-sensitive N channels. These results demonstrate that omega-conotoxin-sensitive N channels play a major role in the synaptic transmission that mediates monosynaptic and electrically evoked slow polysynaptic reflexes, and a lesser but significant role in fast and capsaicin-evoked polysynaptic spinal reflexes. L-type channels play a minor role. Furthermore, dynorphin A depresses synaptic transmission by blockade of high threshold calcium channels that are distinct from the omega-conotoxin-sensitive N channel, or by a mechanism that does not directly involve calcium channels.

Selectivity of Ca2+ channel blockers in inhibiting muscular and nerve activities in isolated colon

1. Potency and efficacy of nifedipine, verapamil and diltiazem and of Bay K 8644 in modifying propulsion and nerve or smooth muscle activities have been compared in the guinea-pig isolated distal colon. Both the neuronal and muscular effects of Ca2+ channel blockers seem to develop at concentrations that are devoid of any significant effect apart from that on Ca2+ channels. 2. Nifedipine, verapamil and diltiazem were all able to impair propulsion, resting and stimulated acetylcholine (ACh) release and smooth muscle contractility in a concentration-dependent way. However, some degree of selectivity for neuronal and muscular effects could be observed. Nifedipine was more than 500 fold more potent than verapamil in relaxing musculature but less than twice as potent in reducing ACh release. On the other hand, verapamil was the most efficacious Ca2+ channel blocker tested in inhibiting ACh release, its effects being inversely correlated to the external Ca2+ concentration, and completely abolished by Bay K 8644. 3. By comparing the potencies exhibited by each drug against peristaltic reflex, smooth muscle contractility and ACh release, verapamil proved to be almost as potent in slowing the peristaltic reflex as in reducing ACh release, while nifedipine was about 100 fold more potent against the peristaltic reflex than against ACh release, but nearly equal against the peristaltic reflex and smooth muscle tone. Therefore, interference with cholinergic neurotransmission is likely to play a major role in the antipropulsive effect of verapamil, while peristaltic reflex impairment by nifedipine is likely to be dependent on inhibition of smooth muscle. 4. A facilitatory effect of Bay K 8644 on both the efficiency of the peristaltic reflex and the nonadrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) nerve-mediated relaxation could be observed at concentrations at least 10 fold lower than those required to affect ACh release or smooth muscle. 5. It is concluded that the effects of Ca2+ channel blockers on neurotransmitter release may be relevant to their effects on the gastrointestinal motor function.