Ca Channel Blocker (Amlodipine) Effects on Human Gingival Fibroblasts in Tissue Culture

The effects of amlodipine, a third generation dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, on human gingival fibroblasts were investigated in vitro. The growth of fibroblastsobtained from an intact donor was inhibited by amlodipine in a concentration-dependent manner. Amlodipine reduced the growth rate, DNA synthesis and oxygen consumption of the fibroblasts. Fuotherarore, the addition of amlodipine in culture media changed the spindle-like appearance of adherent fibeoblasts to round shapes, caused cell detachment from the culture plate and decreased cell viability. In adclition, the presence of amlodipine prevented the fibroblasts floating in suspension from attaching to the culture plate and severely decreased the viable cell rate. These results indicate that amlodipine has no profitable action, but shows inhibitory effect on human gingival fibroblast in vitro. This finding suggests that gingival hyperplasia induced by amlodipine is not ascribed to the direct action of amlodipine on gingival fibroblasts. J. Jpn. Soc. Periodontol., 41: 371-379, 1999.