Calcium channel modulation: ability to inhibit or promote calcium influx resides in the same dihydropyridine molecule

BAY K 8644, a dihydropyridine of the nifedipine type, was shown to increase coronary resistance and to enhance myocardial contractility (Schramm et al., Nature 1983;303:535-7), in contrast to the well-known vasodilating and negative inotropic effects of the "classical" calcium channel blockers. In the isolated perfused guinea pig heart at high concentrations (greater than 3 microM), however, the coronary constricting and positive inotropic effects of BAY K 8644 progressively reverse until the drug has a negative inotropic effect and decreases coronary resistance, thus mimicking the effects of the "classical" calcium antagonists. On the other hand, in the same experimental model, calcium antagonists like nifedipine, nitrendipine, and nicardipine are shown to exert a small but definite positive inotropic effect at low concentrations, indicating a calcium agonistic action at those concentrations. To explain the pharmacological effects of BAY K 8644 and the calcium channel blockers of the dihydropyridine type, a model is proposed that suggests the existence of two dihydropyridine binding sites per channel. According to this model, it depends on the chemical structure of the respective dihydropyridine whether, after occupation of the first site, which increases the calcium influx through the channel, the occupation of the second site is unimpaired, turning the channel to one with low calcium permeability; or whether occupation of the second site is hindered, leaving the channel in the high conductance state.