Influence of calcium antagonists on heart sarcolemmal (Na+ + K(+)-ATPase

The effect of calcium entry blocking agents nitrendipine and flunarizine on Mg(2+)-ATPase, (Mg2+ + Na(+)-ATPase, (Na+ + K(+)-ATPase and (Mg2+ + Ca(2+)-ATPase activities was studied. Nitrendipine (1 mumol/l-1) exerted a stimulatory effect on (Mg2+ + Na(+)-ATPase activity. Kinetic analysis of this effect revealed a two-fold rise in Vmax value and lowered Km value for activation of the enzyme by Na+ ions. In concentrations 10(-7) and 10(-5) mol.l-1 flunarizine behaved as a non-specific inhibitor of all sarcolemmal ATPases investigated. Nevertheless, in concentration of 10(-6) mol.l-1 flunarizine inhibited selectively the (Mg2+ + Na(+)-ATPase and (Na+ + K(+)-ATPase activities of myocardial sarcolemma. These observations provided evidence that both flunarizine and nitrendipine, in the concentration 10(-6) mol.l-1, modulate the (Mg2+ + Na(+)-ATPase and (Na+ + K(+)-ATPase activities in cardiac sarcolemma. These side effects of the above drugs particularly that of nitrendipine might have potential physiological relevance.