Cardiac versus coronary dilator effects of SD-3211, a new nondihydropyridine calcium antagonist, in isolated, blood-perfused dog hearts.

Coronary and cardiac effects of SD-3211 were compared in isolated, blood-perfused sinoatrial (SA) node, atrioventricular (AV) node, and papillary muscle preparations of dogs. SD-3211 was administered intraarterially. In all preparations SD-3211 produced an increase in coronary blood flow. In SA node preparations, the drug produced a decrease in sinus rate, and in high doses atrial standstill occurred. The dose that produced a 15% decrease in sinus rate was about 5.6 times the dose that doubled coronary blood flow. In AV node preparations, when injected into the artery supplying the AV node, the drug produced an increase in AV conduction time, and in high doses second- or third-degree AV block occurred. The dose that produced a 15% increase in AV conduction time was about 1.6 times the dose that doubled coronary blood flow. In the same preparations the drug slightly increased AV conduction time only at high doses when injected into the artery supplying the His-Purkinje-ventricular system. In paced papillary muscle preparations, the drug produced a decrease in the force of contraction. The dose that produced a 50% decrease in the force of contraction of the paced papillary muscle was about 50 times the dose that doubled coronary blood flow. The drug was virtually ineffective on ventricular automaticity. In short, in doses that doubled coronary blood flow, SD-3211 depressed only AV nodal conduction. This cardiovascular profile differs from those of diltiazem and verapamil, which do not discriminate between coronary vasculature and the SA and the AV node.