Paradoxical effects of thioridazine on electromechanical coupling in the human and rat vas deferens

The effects of thioridazine on the responses of isolated human and rat vas deferens to high [K +] 0, A23187 and caffeine were examined. In the presence of Ca 2+ (2.5 mM), thioridazine (1–10 μM) induced spontaneous contractions but caused a dose-related inhibition of the phasic and secondary parts of the response to high [K +] 0 (136 mM). The relaxation phase of the high [K +] 0 response of the human vas deferens was unaffected by thioridazine (up to 10 μM). In Ca 2+-free/EGTA (0.5 mM) media, thioridazine caused a dose-related potentiation, shortened the latency and prolonged the duration of high [K +] 0 responses. Contractions to caffeine (20 mM) and A23187 (20–50 μM) were relatively unchanged by thioridazine (10 μM). The spontaneous activity caused by thioridazine (10 μM) was sensitive to the Ca 2+-channel blockers nifedipine (10 μM) or verapamil (10 μM). These results indicate that the action of thioridazine during electromechanical coupling in the human and rat vas deferens may involve more than its blockade of voltage gated Ca 2+ channels.