Selectivity scale of calcium antagonists in the human cardiovascular system based on in vitro studies

The inhibitory effect of calcium antagonists has been studied on the calcium signal and on contractile activity in the human coronary and internal mammary arteries. We observed that rhythmic vasospasms, either spontaneous or evoked by serotonin and endothelin, were highly sensitive to calcium-channel inhibitors. Functional parameters describing the inhibition have been compared to binding parameters estimated in radioligand studies on membranes prepared from human coronary artery and from human heart. Taking the present studies and observations already published together, it was possible to build up a selectivity scale for diltiazem, verapamil, nifedipine, and nisoldipine. This showed that nisoldipine was more selective for coronary artery than the other calcium antagonists so far studied. Such a selectivity observed in functional studies on intact human preparations in vitro could be predicted considering the kinetic parameters of the interaction of nisoldipine with calcium channels.