[Experiments on the mechanism of action of vascular spasmolytic agents. II. Action of nitroprusside sodium, nitroglycerin, prenylamine and verapamil on the lanthanum contracture of isolated coronary arteries].

On isolated coronary arteries of cattle, lanthanum causes after preceding calcium depletion by EGTA a contracture which is independent of the presence of extracellular calcium. Nitroprusside sodium and nitroglycerol act on this contracture strongly relaxing in the same concentrations that were active on the potassium contracture. In contrast, a very low spasmolytic effect is demonstrable for verapamil on the lanthanum contracture, and prenylamine is without any statistically significant influence. Nitroprusside sodium and nitroglycerol and act by a mechanism entirely different from that of verapamil and prenylamine.