The effect of nifedipine on protein synthesis and surface morphology of peripheral blood cells

Peripheral blood polymorphonuclear cells, lymphocytes, and platelets, incubated with nifedipine, showed a marked dose-dependent inhibition of the cell capacity to synthesize proteins. The possible role of the drug as a Ca2+ blocker for the explanation of this finding is discussed. In addition, the drug induced surface alterations in all three cell types, the most prominent being observed on the platelets which showed elongation of their pseudopodia. This phenomenon, accompanied by an increase in the negative membranal electric charge, may explain the previously reported inhibition of platelet aggregation caused by nifedipine.