Effects of calcium channel modulators on the regulation of cytoplasmic Ca2+ and hormone secretion of parathyroid cells.

Effects of Ca(2+)-channel modulators were examined in human, bovine and murine parathyroid tissue. In 0.5 mM external Ca2+, 100 microM verapamil inhibited parathyroid hormone release, stimulated uptake and efflux of 45Ca and raised cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). However, in 3.0 mM Ca2+ the drug only affected efflux. Methoxyverapamil (50 microM) inhibited parathyroid hormone release in 0.5 mM but stimulated secretion in 3.0 mM Ca2+. BAY K 8644 (10 microM) had similar actions as verapamil on parathyroid hormone release and [Ca2+]i, whereas nifedipine (1 microM) and diltiazem (50-100 microM) lacked effects. Despite the lack of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels in parathyroid cells, drugs with established actions on such channels affect [Ca2+]i and parathyroid hormone release. However, these actions are not sufficiently pronounced and tissue specific to allow their use for correcting hyperparathyroidism.