NG-Nitro-L-arginine Methyl Ester-Induced Potentiaton of the Effect of Aminophylline on Rat Diaphragm: the Role of Extracellular Calcium

• Main Authors: Radan Stojanović, Zoran Todorović, Zorica Nešić, Sonja Vućković, Nataša Cerovac-ćosić, Milica Prostran
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2004-01-01
• Series: Journal of Pharmacological Sciences
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1347861319323291

The role of extracellular calcium in the interaction between intracellular cAMP and nitric oxide (NO)/cGMP on the contractility of rat diaphragm pretreated with cumulative concentrations of aminophylline (0.36 – 3.60 mM) was investigated. In a Ca2+-free medium, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (1 and 3 mM) depressed tension developed (Td) and also aminophylline-induced potentiation of Td in a concentration-dependent manner. Verapamil (2.5 μM) or nicardipine (20 μM) significantly antagonized the potentiating effect of L-NAME on Td in a calcium-containing medium. However, in the presence of verapamil or nicardipine, L-NAME still produced statistically significant potentiation of the cumulative concentrations of aminophylline (0.36 – 3.60 mM), given in the second series. Keywords:: aminophylline, calcium, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester