Inhibition of T-type and L-type Ca(2+) currents by aranidipine, a novel dihydropyridine Ca(2+) antagonist

The effects of aranidipine, a novel dihydropyridine Ca(2+) channel antagonist, on membrane currents in guinea pig ventricular myocytes and on action potentials in rabbit sinoatrial node tissue were examined. In myocytes, aranidipine (10 nmol/l to 1 micromol/l) concentration-dependently decreased T-type and L-type Ca(2+) currents. Aranidipine (1 micromol/l) had little effect on K(+) currents. In the sinoatrial node, 0.1 micromol/l aranidipine increased cycle length, and decreased +V(max) and the slope of the phase 4 depolarization. Thus, inhibition of both T-type and L-type Ca(2+) currents by aranidipine may partly explain its potent negative chronotropic activity.