Inhibitory effects of tetrandrine on Bay k 8644-stimulated contraction of isolated rabbit aortic strips.

In the presence of KCl 19 mmol.L-1, calcium agonist Bay k 8644 0.47 mumol.L-1 elicited a strong contraction of isolated rabbit aortic strips, and this contraction was concentration-dependently inhibited by tetrandrine; but this antagonism was noncompetitive. Calcium ionophore calcimycin evoked contraction was markedly depressed by tetrandrine. The results suggested that tetrandrine might not only inhibit transmembrane influx of calcium via potential-dependent channels but also interfere with other processes related to calcium.