Voltage-dependent cooperative interactions of calcium channel ligands in intact cardiac cells

Voltage-dependent Ca channels were studied in living, tissue cultured rat heart cells using patch clamp analysis of single channels and radioligand binding studies at different membrane potentials. Ca channel activating and blocking dihydropyridines (DHP) show cooperative interaction and, therefore, bind to at least two different binding sites on the channel protein. Cooperative interactions between activating and blocking DHP, between DHP and verapamil and between DHP and diltiazem are all voltage dependent. The type of interaction in polarized cells and hence, the possible effects in vivo cannot be predicted from studies in cell homogenates.