Nimodipine and nitrendipine inhibit N-type calcium channels in dibutyryl cAMP-differentiated neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid (NG 108-15) cells.

The effects of nifedipine, niguldipine, nimodipine and nitrendipine on the high K+-induced intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) transient in dibutyryl cAMP-differentiated neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid NG 108-15 cells were studied by using the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator fura-2. It was observed that nifedipine at the concentration of 50 microM inhibited the high K+-induced [Ca2+]i transient by about 60%; niguldipine at the concentration of 10 microM caused a reduction of about 65% in the high K+-induced calcium signal and a further increase in the concentration up to 50 microM did not result in a significant further reduction in the high K+-induced calcium signal. However, on the other hand, nimodipine and nitrendipine at 50 microM inhibited almost completely the high K+-induced [Ca2+]i transient. Consequently, it was demonstrated in the present study that nimodipine and nitrendipine inhibit both L- and N-type calcium channels and thus seem to be unique among the dihydropyridines examined in their effects on calcium channels in dibutyryl cAMP-differentiated neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid NG 108-15 cells, whereas nifedipine and niguldipine appear to block mainly L-type calcium channels.