Antihypertensive Effects of Niguldipine-HCl (B 844–39), a New Calcium Antagonist in Dogs

B 844–39 is a new dihydropyridine calcium antagonist with a long-lasting antihypertensive action. Preliminary tests in chronically instrumented normotensive dogs revealed that B 844–39 (0.3 mg/kg p.o.) caused a marked decrease in blood pressure which was accompanied by a counterregulatory increase in heart rate. Both effects outlasted the 6-h observation period. There was no sign of cardiac depression in left ventricular positive dP/dtmax or sonomicrometrically evaluated subendocardial systolic shortening. B 844–39 was also tested in renal hypertensive dogs over a period of 12 days to investigate its potential in the long-term treatment of hypertension. A dosage of 0.3 mg/kg given orally twice a day led to a marked and persistent decrease in blood pressure, which was accompanied by a positive chronotropic effect and increases in plasma renin activity and angiotensin II. This initial counterregulatory response was blunted within several days of chronic treatment. After completion of the 12-day treatment period, the blood pressure reduction persisted for >14 days. B 844–39 induced a marked and persistent reduction in blood pressure in hypertensive dogs, even with prolongation of the dosing interval to 24 h. The hypotensive effect of this drug was more pronounced in hypertensive than in normotensive animals.