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Updated: Oct 23, 2026

Gastrointestinal Motility Monitor (GIMM)
Published on: December 1, 2010
Calcium agonists and antagonists of the dihydropyridine type: effect on nicotine-induced antinociception and
1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298-0613.
Abstract:
The influence of a calcium agonist (BAYK 8644) and several calcium channel blockers on nicotine-induced antinociception was investigated in mice. The effect of nicotine was sharply increased by BAYK 8644. This potentiation by BAYK 8644 was blocked by pretreating the animals with nifedipine at 2 and 10 mg/kg. The calcium channel antagonists, nifedipine and nimodipine at doses that had no effect on tail-flick time, reduced significantly the antinociception induced by nicotine (1.5 mg/kg, s.c.). However, the effect of verapamil on nicotine was not significant. These results indicate that DHP calcium channels (type L-channel) play a role in some of the pharmacological effects of nicotine, particularly, locomotor activity and antinociception.
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