Diuretic and antihypertensive activity of ZENECA ZM224,832: a novel eukalemic diuretic with calcium channel blocking activity.

ZENECA ZM224,832 is a novel eukalemic diuretic from the aminomethylphenol pyrazine series which demonstrated a profile of calcium channel blockers. It produced diuretic and saluretic effects in animals but had only minimal alterations in kaliuresis after oral administration. In contrast to standard diuretics, the plasma K+ concentration was not altered in conscious dogs treated for 14 days with ZENECA ZM224,832 and the concurrent plasma renin activity was also minimally elevated. The isolated rat aorta evaluation indicated that ZENECA ZM224,832, like tiapamil and nifedipine, inhibited vascular smooth muscle tone by inhibiting voltage-dependent calcium channels. ZENECA ZM224,832 produced a dose-dependent decrease of blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) in which the antihypertensive activity was not noted with HCTZ. In addition, ZENECA ZM224,832, similar to diltiazem, produced an acute blood pressure lowering effect in nephrectomized SHR which was independent of its diuretic activity. It is concluded that ZENECA ZM224,832 is a potent eukalemic diuretic with calcium channel blocking properties.