Action of bepridil, a new calcium channel blocker on oxidative phosphorylation, oligomycin-sensitive adenosine triphosphatase activity, swelling, Ca++ uptake and Na+-induced Ca++ release processes of rabbit heart mitochondria in vitro.

Effects of bepridil [1-[3-isobutoxy-2]benzylphenyl-amino)propyl pyrrolidine) on oxidative phosphorylation, oligomycin-sensitive adenosine triphosphatase, swelling, Ca++ uptake and Na+-induced Ca++ release processes of mitochondria isolated from rabbit heart were investigated. Bepridil, in concentrations greater than 5 microM, produced uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation and stimulated oligomycin-sensitive adenosine triphosphatase activity. At low concentrations it prevented inorganic phosphate-induced swelling and associated depression of oxidative phosphorylation. Its effectiveness in preventing swelling and depression of oxidative phosphorylation was found to be dependent on inorganic phosphate concentration. A concentration of 1 microM of bepridil was effective in producing 50% less depression of phosphorylating respiration in the presence of 10 mM inorganic phosphate. Concentrations of bepridil above 25 microM inhibited the rate of Ca++ uptake. A 50% inhibition of Ca++ uptake was observed at 93 microM bepridil. The rate of Na+-induced Ca++ release was also inhibited by bepridil. A 50% inhibition of the rate of Na+-induced Ca++ release occurred at 11 microM of bepridil. When the Na+-dependent Ca++ release process was about 80% inhibited by 25 microM bepridil, the uptake process still remained at the same level as the untreated control. Results suggest that in addition to reported effects on sarcolemma and sarcoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria are also affected by bepridil.