Inhibitory effect of calcium channel blockers on proliferation of human glioma cellsin vitro

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Abstract
The effects of 2 specific calcium channel blockers, verapmil and nimodipine, on the proliferation of human glioma tumour cells were investigated in vitro. Tumour tissues for primary cell cultures were obtained bioptically from 3 patients with the histopathological diagnosis of glioblastoma. The [3H]-thymidine incorporation into glioma tumour cells DNA was used as a sensitive index of the cell proliferation. It was found that verapamil (10-4-10-5M) and nimodipine (10-4-10-6M) significantly inhibited the [3H]-thymidine uptake in a dose-related manner. The inhibitory effect of both calcium channel antagonists was reversed by simultaneous addition of calcium chloride (5 .times. 10-3M). These results indicate that verapamil and nimodipine may exert an antiproliferative effect on glioma cells growth acting through a blockade of specific voltage-dependent calcium channels.