• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2007

The present study was designed to establish comparatively the inhibitory effects of cilnidipine(CNP), nifedipine(NIF), and $\omega$-conotoxin GVIA(CTX) on the release of CA evoked by cholinergic stimulation and membrane depolarization from the isolated perfused model of the rat adrenal medulla. CNP(3 ${\mu}M$), NIF(3 ${\mu}M$), and CTX(3 ${\mu}M$) perfused into an adrenal vein for 60 min produced greatly inhibition in CA secretory responses evoked by ACh($5.32{\times}10^{-3}M$), DMPP($10^{-4}M$ for 2 min), McN-A-343($10^{-4}M$ for 2 min), high $K^+(5.6{\times}10^{-2}M)$, Bay-K-8644($10^{-5}M$), and cyclopiazonic acid($10^{-5}M$), respectively. For the CA release evoked by ACh and Bay-K-8644, the following rank order of potency was obtained: CNP>NIF>CTX. The rank order for the CA release evoked by McN-A-343 and cyclopiazonic acid was CNP>NIF>CTX. Also, the rank orders for high $K^+$ and for DMPP were NIF>CTX>CNP and NIF>CNP>CTX, respectively. Taken together, these results demonstrate that all voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channels(VDCCs) blockers of cilnidipine, nifedipine, and $\omega$-conotoxin GVIA inhibit greatly the CA release evoked by stimulation of cholinergic(both nicotinic and muscarinic) receptors and the membrane depolarization without affecting the basal release from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland. It seems likely that the inhibitory effects of cilnidipine, nifedipine, and $\omega$-conotoxin GVIA are mediated by the blockade of both L- and N-type, L-type only, and N-type only VDCCs located on the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells, respectively, which are relevant to $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization. It is also suggested that N-type VDCCs play an important role in the rat adrenomedullary CA secretion, in addition to L-type VDCCs.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.297-306
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• 2020

Repetitive changes in the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]i) triggers egg activation, including cortical granule exocytosis, resumption of second meiosis, block to polyspermy, and initiating embryonic development. [Ca²⁺]i oscillations that continue for several hours, are required for the early events of egg activation and possibly connected to further development to the blastocyst stage. The sources of Ca²⁺ ion elevation during [Ca²⁺]i oscillations are Ca²⁺ release from endoplasmic reticulum through inositol 1,4,5 tri-phosphate receptor and Ca²⁺ ion influx through Ca²⁺ channel on the plasma membrane. Ca²⁺ channels have been characterized into voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels (VDCCs), ligand-gated Ca²⁺ channel, and leak-channel. VDCCs expressed on muscle cell or neuron is specified into L, T, N, P, Q, and R type VDCs by their activation threshold or their sensitivity to peptide toxins isolated from cone snails and spiders. The present study was aimed to investigate the localization pattern of N and P/Q type voltage-dependent calcium channels in mouse eggs and the role in fertilization. [Ca²⁺]i oscillation was observed in a Ca²⁺ contained medium with sperm factor or adenophostin A injection but disappeared in Ca²⁺ free medium. Ca²⁺ influx was decreased by Lat A. N-VDCC specific inhibitor, ω-Conotoxin CVIIA induced abnormal [Ca²⁺]i oscillation profiles in SrCl₂ treatment. N or P/Q type VDC were distributed on the plasma membrane in cortical cluster form, not in the cytoplasm. Ca²⁺ influx is essential for [Ca²⁺]i oscillation during mammalian fertilization. This Ca²⁺ influx might be controlled through the N or P/Q type VDCCs. Abnormal VDCCs expression of eggs could be tested in fertilization failure or low fertilization eggs in subfertility women.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.43-50
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• 2011

Voltage dependent calcium channel (VDCC), one of the most important regulator of $Ca^{2+}$ concentration in neuron, play an essential role in the central processing of nociceptive information. The present study investigated the antinociceptive effects of L, T or N type VDCC blockers on the formalin-induced orofacial inflammatory pain. Experiments were carried out on adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 220-280 g. Anesthetized rats were individually fixed on a stereotaxic frame and a polyethylene (PE) tube was implanted for intracisternal injection. After 72 hours, 5% formalin ($50 \;{\mu}L$) was applied subcutaneously to the vibrissa pad and nociceptive scratching behavior was recorded for nine successive 5 min intervals. VDCC blockers were administered intracisternally 20 minutes prior to subcutaneous injection of formalin into the orofacial area. The intracisternal administration of 350 or $700{\mu}g$ of verapamil, a blocker of L type VDCC, significantly decreased the number of scratches and duration in the behavioral responses produced by formalin injection. Intracisternal administration of 75 or $150 \;{\mu}g$ of mibefradil, a T type VDCC blocker, or 11 or $22\; {\mu}g$ of cilnidipine, a N type VDCC blocker, also produced significant suppression of the number of scratches and duration of scratching in the first and second phase. Neither intracisternal administration of all VDCC blockers nor vehicle did not affect in motor dysfunction. The present results suggest that central VDCCs play an important role in orofacial nociceptive transmission and a targeted inhibition of the VDCCs is a potentially important treatment approach for inflammatory pain originating in the orofacial area.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.265-272
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• 2004

The present study was attempted to investigate the effect of cilnidipine (FRC-8635), which is a newly synthesised novel dihydropyridine (DHP) type of organic $Ca^{2+}$ channel blockers, on secretion of catecholamines (CA) evoked by acetylcholine (ACh), high $K^+$, DMPP and McN-A-343 from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland. Cilnidipine $(1{\sim}10{\mu}M)$ perfused into an adrenal vein for 60 min produced relatively dose- and time-dependent inhibition in CA secretory responses evoked by ACh $(5.32{\times}10^{-3}M),\;DMPP\;(10^{-4}M\;for\;2\;min)$ and McN-A-343 $(10^{-4}M\;for\;2\;min)$. However, lower dose of cilnidipine did not affect CA secretion by high $K^+\;(5.6{\times}10^{-2}\;M)$, higher dose of it reduced greatly CA secretion of high $K^{+}$. Cilnidipine itself did fail to affect basal catecholamine output. In the presence of cilnidipine $(10{\mu}M)$, the CA secretory responses evoked by Bay-K-8644 $(10{\mu}M)$, an activator of L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels and cyclopiazonic acid $(10{\mu}M)$, an inhibitor of cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase were also inhibited. Moreover, ${\omega}-conotoxin\;GVIA\;(1{\mu}M)$, a selective blocker of the N-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels, given into the adrenal gland for 60 min, also inhibited time-dependently CA secretory responses evoked by Ach, high $K^+$, DMPP, McN-A-343, Bay-K-8644 and cyclopiazonic acid. Taken together, these results demostrate that cilnidipine inhibits CA secretion evoked by stimulation of cholinergic (both nicotinic and muscarinic) receptors from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland without affecting the basal release. However, at lower dose, cilnidipine did not affect CA release by membrane depolarization while at larger dose inhibited that. It seems likely that this inhibitory effect of cilnidipine is exerted by blocking both L- and N-type voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channels (VDCCs) on the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells, which is relevant to inhibition of both the $Ca^{2+}$ influx into the adrenal chromaffin cells and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release from the cytoplasmic store. It is thought that N-type VDCCs may play an important role in regulation of CA release from the rat adrenal medulla.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.259-265
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• 2017

Excessive influx and the subsequent rapid cytosolic elevation of $Ca^{2+}$ in neurons is the major cause to induce hyperexcitability and irreversible cell damage although it is an essential ion for cellular signalings. Therefore, most neurons exhibit several cellular mechanisms to homeostatically regulate cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ level in normal as well as pathological conditions. Delayed rectifier $K^+$ channels ($I_{DR}$ channels) play a role to suppress membrane excitability by inducing $K^+$ outflow in various conditions, indicating their potential role in preventing pathogenic conditions and cell damage under $Ca^{2+}$-mediated excitotoxic conditions. In the present study, we electrophysiologically evaluated the response of $I_{DR}$ channels to hyperexcitable conditions induced by high $Ca^{2+}$ pretreatment (3.6 mM, for 24 hours) in cultured hippocampal neurons. In results, high $Ca^{2+}$-treatment significantly increased the amplitude of $I_{DR}$ without changes of gating kinetics. Nimodipine but not APV blocked $Ca^{2+}$-induced $I_{DR}$ enhancement, confirming that the change of $I_{DR}$ might be targeted by $Ca^{2+}$ influx through voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channels (VDCCs) rather than NMDA receptors (NMDARs). The VDCC-mediated $I_{DR}$ enhancement was not affected by either $Ca^{2+}$-induced $Ca^{2+}$ release (CICR) or small conductance $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channels (SK channels). Furthermore, PP2 but not H89 completely abolished $I_{DR}$ enhancement under high $Ca^{2+}$ condition, indicating that the activation of Src family tyrosine kinases (SFKs) is required for $Ca^{2+}$-mediated $I_{DR}$ enhancement. Thus, SFKs may be sensitive to excessive $Ca^{2+}$ influx through VDCCs and enhance $I_{DR}$ to activate a neuroprotective mechanism against $Ca^{2+}$-mediated hyperexcitability in neurons.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.95-95
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• 2001

Ciinidipine (FRC-8635) is a newly synthesized novel DHP type of organic Ca$\_$2＋/channel blockers that have been developed so far in Japan (Yoshimoto et al., 1991 : Hosono et at., 1992). It also has a blocking action on L-type voltage-dependent Ca$\^$2＋/channel (VDCCs) in the rabbit basilar artery (Oike et al., 1990) and a slow-onset and long-lasting hypotensive action in clinical and experimental studies (Ikeda et al., 1992 ; Tominaga et al., 1997). Recent electrophysiological data indicate that cilnidipine might be a dual-channel antagonist for peripheral neuronal N-type and vascular L-type Ca$\^$2＋/channels (Oike et al., 1990 ; Fujii et al., 1997; Uneyama et at., 1997). However, little is known about the involvement of N-type VDCCs in contributing to the muscarinic receptor-mediated CA secretion. Therefore, the present study was attempted to investigate the effect of cilinidipine on secretion of catecholamines (CA) evoked by ACh, high K$\^$＋/, DMPP and McN-A-343 from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland. Cilnidipine (1-10 ${\mu}$M) perfused into an adrenal vein for 60 min produced dose- and time-dependent inhibition in CA secretory responses evoked by ACh (5.32${\times}$10$\^$-3/M), DMPP (10$\^$-4/ M for 2 min) and McN-A-343 (10$\^$-4/ M for 2 min). However, lower dose of lobeline did not affect CA secretion by high K$\^$＋/(5.6${\times}$10$\^$-2/ M), higher dose of it reduced greatly CA secretion of high K$\^$＋/. Cilnidipine itself did also fail to affect basal catecholamine output. Furthermore, in adrenal glands loaded with cilnidipine (10 ${\mu}$M), CA secretory response evoked by Bay-K-8644 (10 ${\mu}$M), an activator of L-type Ca$\^$2＋/channels was markedly inhibited while CA secretion by cyclopiazonic acid (10 ${\mu}$M), an inhibitor of cytoplasmic Ca$\^$2＋/-ATPase was no affected. Moreover, $\omega$-conotoxin GVIA (1 ${\mu}$M), given into the adrenal gland for 60 min, also inhibited time-dependently CA secretory responses evoked by ACh and high K$\^$＋/.