Calcium entry activators: distinct sites of dihydropyridine and aminopyridine action

The dihydropyridine compound BAY K 8644, a putative calcium entry activator, inhibits binding of the dihydropyridine calcium entry blocker, [3H]nitrendipine, to rat skeletal muscle membranes. In contrast, aminopyridine compounds also believed to stimulate calcium flux do not interact with [3H]nitrendipine binding sites in skeletal muscle or brain. These findings suggest that calcium entry activators, like calcium entry blockers, affect voltage-dependent calcium channels by diverse mechanisms.