Dilazep inhibits binding of batrachotoxin to sodium channels in canine sarcolemmal vesicles.

We studied the effect of dilazep on the binding of [3H]- batrachotoxinin A 20 alpha-benzoate ([3H]BTXB), which binds to and stabilizes the activated state of the Na+ channel, and compared it with that of lidocaine in canine cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles. Dilazep inhibited the specific [3H]BTXB binding in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 0.37 microM, while lidocaine inhibited it with an IC50 value of 92 microM. Scatchard analysis of [3H]BTXB binding demonstrated that both dilazep and lidocaine reduced the amax without a marked effect on the K(D). The inhibition of [3H]BTXB induced by dilazep was reversible. Both dilazep (4 microM) and lidocaine (100 microM) increased the dissociation rate constant of [3H]BTXB only in concentrations which are about a 10-fold greater than their IC50, indicating the low affinity of both drugs for the [3H]BTXB-bound Na+ channel. However, dilazep (0.5 microM) and lidocaine (100 microM) decreased significantly the association rate constant of the [3H]BTXB binding at concentrations near their IC50, indicating that the affinity of both drugs for the [3H]BTXB-unbound Na+ channel is relatively high. These results suggest that, in canine cardiac membrane vesicles, the effect of dilazep in inhibiting the binding of [3H]BTXB and stabilizing the Na+ channel is similar to that of lidocaine, but the potency of dilazep is greater than that of lidocaine.