A Comparison of Effects of BAY K 8644 and CGP 28392, Dihydropyridines with Ca Agonistic Properties, on Spontaneous Mechanical Activity in Rat Portal Vein: Modification of Effect by Ultraviolet Radiation

: The effect of CGP 28392 and BAY K 8644 was studied on isolated portal veins from male Wistar Kyoto rats. BAY K 8644 and CGP 28392 induced a concentration dependent increase in spontaneous mechanical activity in low but not in high concentrations. The portal vein was more sensitive to the effect of BAY K 8644 than to that of CGP 28392. In Ca free medium the increasing effect of BAY K 8644 and CGP 28392 on the mechanical activity was abolished and restored by readdition of calcium. Nifedipine abolished the augmenting effect of BAY K 8644 and CGP 28392 on mechanical activity. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) depressed the effect of BAY K 8644 but had no effect on mechanical activity induced by CGP 28392. BAY K 8644 and CGP 28392 degradate slowly under influence of UVR; BAY K 8644 was far more resistant to the destroying effect of UVR than CGP 28392. The results indicate that both BAY K 8644 and CGP 28392 increase the spontaneous mechanical activity in rat portal vein by enhancing Ca influx. The effect of BAY K 8644 differs from that of CGP 28392 by being sensitive to UVR; this action seems not to be due to a direct UVR destroying effect of the substances, but rather to a BAY K 8644 induced sensibilisation of the tissue to UVR