Comparison of the effects of cromakalim, a potassium conductance enhancer, and nimodipine, a calcium antagonist, on 5-hydroxytryptamine responses in a variety of vascular smooth muscle preparations.

We have examined the effects of the potassium conductance enhancer cromakalim (BRL34915) and the calcium entry blocker nimodipine upon 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) induced contractions in ring preparations from rabbit basilar and mesenteric arteries, and from pig coronary arteries. Cumulative concentration-response (CR) curves to 5-HT were biphasic in basilar and mesenteric arteries, and monophasic in coronary arteries. Coronary artery 5-HT CR curves and the first component of the mesenteric artery 5-HT CR curve were antagonized by ketanserin (pKB values 8.9 and 8.8, respectively), whereas basilar artery CR curves were not. Prazosin antagonized the second component of the mesenteric 5-HT CR curve, but not that of the basilar artery. Cromakalim (0.1-10 mumols/l) and nimodipine (0.001-1 mumol/l) both caused reductions in resting tension in basilar and coronary arteries denuded of their endothelia, but this effect was not seen with mesenteric arteries. Procaine (5 mmol/l) abolished this vasorelaxant effect of cromakalim in basilar artery. Both agents concentration-dependently depressed the 5-HT CR curve in coronary artery, the effect of cromakalim was antagonized by lidocaine (100 mumols/l). In basilar artery, only the first component was cromakalim sensitive unlike nimodipine which depressed both components of the CR curve. In mesenteric artery, 5-HT CR curves were depressed by cromakalim, but only slightly affected by nimodipine (1 mumol/l). It is concluded that cromakalim, like nimodipine, possesses anti-vasospastic activity; however, differences exist in the sensitivity of the 5-HT mediated contractions of the three arterial preparations to the agents.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)