The receptor occupation and plasma concentration of NKY‐722, a water‐soluble dihydropyridine‐type calcium antagonist, in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Abstract
1 The occupation in vivo by NKY-722 of 1,4-dihydropyridine (DHP) calcium antagonist receptors in myocardium, aorta and cerebral cortex was investigated. At 1 and 3 h after oral administration of NKY-722 (3 mg kg−1) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), there was a significant (44 and 41%, respectively) decrease in the number of myocardial (+)-[3H]-PN 200-110 binding sites (Bmax) compared to control values. A greater reduction of Bmax values was observed at 1 (86%), 3 (88%), 6 (63%) and 12 (46%) h later by a higher dose (10 mg kg−1) of this drug. The occupation of myocardial 1,4-DHP calcium antagonist receptors after oral administration of NKY-722 correlated significantly with its plasma concentration. There was a significant decrease in cerebral cortical (+)-[3H]-PN 200-110 binding (Bmax) at 1 and 3 h after oral administration of NKY-722 (10 mg kg−1). 2 Oral administration of nicardipine (10 mg kg−1) in SHR caused a significant reduction of Bmax values for (+)-[3H]-PN 200-110 binding in myocardium at 1 and 3 h later and in cerebral cortex at 1 h later. 3 The in vivo specific binding of (+)-[3H]-PN 200-110 in particulate fractions of aorta of SHR was significantly (79 and 83%, respectively) reduced at 1 and 6 h after oral administration of NKY-722 (3 mg kg−1), while myocardial (+)-[3H]-PN 200-110 binding was decreased by 52% only at 1 h later. Also, nicardipine administration reduced in vivo (+)-[3H]-PN 200-110 binding in aorta at 1 and 6 h later and in myocardium at 1 h later. On the other hand, the administration of both NKY-722 and nicardipine had no significant effect on in vivo (+)-[3H]-PN 200-110 binding in cerebreal cortex. 4 It is concluded that NKY-722 may exert more selective and sustained occupation in vivo of 1,4-DHP calcium antagonist receptors in vascular tissues of SHR than in myocardial and brain tissues.