• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.591-596
• /
• 2005

Amlodipine, nifedipine, and felodipine are calcium channel blocking agents, which are cause of unwanted gingival overgrowth around natural teeth. Many studies has been performed about this unwanted effects. However, the exact etiology remains uncertain.Few reports and investigations can be found in the literature on drug-induced gingival overgrowth around dental implants. The present case reports that amlodipine-induced gingival overgrowth occurred in peri-implant sites, confirms clinical and histological features in hyperplastic peri-implant tissues. Clinical and histological features of amlodipine-induced gingival overgrowth around dental implants were similar to that of tissue around natural teeth.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
• /
• 1993.04a
• /
• pp.53-53
• /
• 1993

In considering the mechanism of action of the calcium antagonists, it is important to realize that there are three distinct receptor types and that the new classification divides these three drugs as members of the dihydropyridine, phenylalkylamines and benzothiazipines, respectively. The World Health Organization as well as the International Union of Pharmacology and Cardiology have adopted this classification. Unlike every other class of drugs, such as the alpha and beta adrenergic blocking agents, diuretics, etc., the calcium antagonists need to be thought of as three distinct drug classes. The reason they share some, but not all of the pharmacological profile is that they all act at specific receptor domains present in one large protein of 165 daltons present in all excitable tissue. This protein along with several other subunits make up what is known as the voltage-dependent calcium channel (the so-called "L"type, L-VDCC). The mechanism of action of the three drugs involve first a specfic binding and then an inhibition of the movement of calcium into the cell Some of these drugs, such as diltiazem, may have other interesting intracellular effects perhaps associated with protection of the mitochondria during ischemic insults. The nature of the receptor is being explored by molecular genetic techniques, and we have recently cloned two of the major subunits; some of the data will be presented.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.209-215
• /
• 2022

Objectives: Aqueous leaf extract of Tridax procumbens (ALETP) has potent relaxant activity. However, this relaxant activity in respiratory smooth muscle remains uninvestigated. This study investigates the effect of ALETP on the contractile activity of tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) in adult male Wistar rats. Methods: Twelve male Wistar rats divided into 2 groups and were treated with either 100 mg/kg of ALETP (ALETP treatment group) or vehicle (distilled water; control group) through oral gavage for 4 weeks. Dose responses of TSM from the 2 groups to acetylcholine (10^-9 to 10^-5 M), phenylephrine (10^-9 to 10^-5 M), and potassium chloride (KCl; 10^-9 to 10^-4 M) were determined cumulatively. Furthermore, cumulative dose responses to acetylcholine (10^-9 to 10^-5 M) after pre-incubation of TSM with atropine (10^-5 M), L-NAME (10^-4 M), indomethacin (10^-4 M), and nifedipine (10^-4 M), were determined. Results: Treatment with ALETP substantially inhibited TSM contraction stimulated by cumulative doses of acetylcholine, phenylephrine, and KCl. Furthermore, preincubation of TSM from the 2 groups in atropine significantly inhibited contractility in TSM. Incubation in L-NAME and indomethacin also significantly inhibited contractility in TSM of ALETP-treated rats compared to that of controls. Contractile activity of the TSM was also inhibited significantly with incubation in nifedipine in ALETP-treated rats. Conclusion: ALETP enhanced relaxant activity in rat TSM primarily by blocking the L-type calcium channel and promoting endothelial nitric oxide release. ALETP contains agents that may be useful in disorders of the respiratory tract.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.57-64
• /
• 1997

$Amino-{\beta}-lactam$ antibiotics are absorbed by the dipeptide transporter in the small intestine. These uptakes are coupled to a proton influx. The inward proton gradient is partly induced by the $Na^+/H^+$ exchanger and calcium ion is involved in control of this antiport. Interaction between ampicillin which is one of the $Amino-{\beta}-lactam$ antibiotics and nifedipine which is one of calcium channel blocking agents was studied in rats in vivo and with rabbit jejunum mounted on the Sweetana/Grass diffusion cells in vitro. Bioavailability of ampicillin was increased significantly when nifedipine was co-administered orally in rats. There were no differences in the distribution phase and the elimination phase when ampicillin was given either alone or with nifedipine intravenously. Conditions for in vitro experiments were determined. The lift rate of $O_2/CO_2$ gas was controlled to 3 bubbles/sec and ampicillin was stable in the Kreb's buffer at pH 6.0. Absorption of ampicillin was the greatest when the completely-stripped serosal membrane was used. Transport of ampicillin from mucosal to serosal side in the rabbit jejunum was enhanced by 32% in the presence of nifedipine (p=0.059). Above results suggest that nifedipine might increase the plasma level of ampicillin via the improved absorption in the intestine rather than the reduction in the elimination or/and alteration in the distribution.