The effect of calcium antagonists on contractions of the sensitized and normal guinea pig ileum

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to learn whether a number of Ca2+ antagonists were effective in reducing contractile responses of the isolated ileum of the sensitized and normal guinea pig. Contractions of the normal ileum in response to LTD4, acetylcholine, histamine, and potassium chloride were obtained before and after verapamil, diltiazem and papaverine. Ovalbumin-induced contractions of the ovalbumin-sensitized ileum were obtained in the presence of the three Ca2+ antagonists. In the normal ileum, all the Ca2+ antagonists were highly effective in diminishing the contractile responses to LTD4, acetylcholine, histamine and potassium chloride. In the sensitized ileum, ovalbumin-evoked contractions, with subsequent release of a potent contractile mediator (presumably SRS-A), were Ca2+-dependent since verapamil, diltiazem and papaverine caused a concentration-related reduction of contractions. Thus, the influx of extracellular Ca2+ plays a key role in the contractile responses of the normal and sensitized guinea pig ileum when stimulated by various potent agonists acting on specific receptors or on the cell membrane.