Effects of perhexiline on contractile response of rabbit aorta to norepinephrine and potassium.

Perhexiline (3.2 X 10(-7)-6.4 X 10(-6) M) and verapamil (2 X 10(-8)-2 X 10(-7) M) inhibited the contraction of rabbit aorta induced with 40 mM K+ and with low concentrations (5.9 X 10(-9)-5.9 X 10(-8) M) of norepinephrine more effectively than the contraction induced by higher concentrations of norepinephrine. The tension induced by 1.2 X 10(-6) M norepinephrine was augmented with the above concentrations of perhexiline and verapamil. Higher concentrations (3.2 X 10(-5)-6.4 X 10(-5) M) of perhexiline significantly reduced the peak tension induced by norepinephrine. The results suggest that perhexiline is a Ca2+ antagonist and also has an unspecific spasmolytic action.