Calcium flow-independent actions of calcium channel blockers in toad urinary bladder

A role for transmembrane calcium movement in vasopressin stimulation of its target cell has been postulated based on studies with calcium entry blockers such as verapamil. We examined the effect of three sets of structurally different calcium blockers--D600 (an analogue of verapamil), diltiazem, and nifedipine--on water flow in toad bladder. D600 (200 microM), diltiazem (200 microM), and nifedipine (60 microM) inhibited vasopressin-induced water flow but enhanced adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-induced water flow, suggesting that the drugs inhibit cAMP generation in response to vasopressin but enhance the response to exogenous cAMP by inhibiting phosphodiesterase activity. In the case of vasopressin stimulation, inhibition of cAMP generation appears to be the overriding effect. This was confirmed by measurements of cAMP content and the protein kinase ratio (-cAMP/+cAMP), which were significantly lower in bladders receiving both D600 and vasopressin than in those receiving vasopressin alone. Furthermore the drugs inhibited activation of adenylate cyclase by vasopressin in cell homogenates and inhibited phosphodiesterase in both homogenates and membrane-free supernatants. Thus these "calcium channel blockers" can directly alter cAMP metabolism in settings where movement of calcium should be irrelevant. The close correlation between the biochemical and transport effects of these agents suggests that their effect on water flow may occur by a direct effect on cellular enzymes or the membranes in which they reside and not by altering local calcium concentrations.