Effects of niludipine (Bay a 7168) on the cardiovascular system with a note on its calcium-antagonistic effects.

1,4-Dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid-bis-(2-propoxyethyl)-ester (niludipine, Bay a 7168), a newly synthesized vasodilator, was three to ten times more potent than nifedipine in dilating the coronary artery of the canine heart-lung and isolated fibrillating heart preparations, but had weaker direct cardiac depressant effects. This drug had a strong and highly selective calcium antagonistic effect on the smooth muscle and also had stronger vasodilating activity on renal and femoral vascular beds as compared to nifedipine. It inhibited myocardial oxidative metabolism in canine and guinea pig hearts.