The influence of verapamil and papaverine on the calcium- and epinephrine-induced responses of isolated guinea-pig atria.

The effects of papaverine and verapamil on Ca2+ - and epinephrine evoked responses were investigated on spontaneously beating atria of the guinea-pig. Papaverine showed a non competitive antagonism against epinephrine but was ineffective against Ca2+; verapamil antagonized both the action of epinephrine and Ca2+ in a different manner but at the same concentrations. The pharmacological prerequisite to classify an anti-Ca2+ substance as a blocker of Ca2+ entry (that is the ability to selectively antagonize the Ca2+ -induced contraction relative to those of norepinephrine in vascular smooth muscle) was not met by the results obtained in the cardiac tissue. The behaviors of verapamil and papaverine with regard to Ca2+ response suggest another criterion for classifying a substance as a Ca2+ entry blocker based on the ability or inability to inhibit the response of the atrial preparation to Ca2+.