Mi. Damaj et Br. Martin, CALCIUM AGONISTS AND ANTAGONISTS OF THE DIHYDROPYRIDINE TYPE - EFFECTON NICOTINE-INDUCED ANTINOCICEPTION AND HYPOMOTILITY, Drug and alcohol dependence, 32(1), 1993, pp. 73-79
The influence of a calcium agonist (BAYK 8644) and several calcium cha
nnel blockers on nicotine-induced antinociception was investigated in
mice. The effect of nicotine was sharply increased by BAYK 8644. This
potentitation by BAYK 8644 was blocked by pretreating the animals with
nifedipine at 2 and 10 mg/kg. The calcium channel antagonigts, nifedi
pine and nimodipine at doses that had no effect on tail-flick time, re
duced significantly the antinociception induced by nicotine (1.5 mg/kg
, s.c.). However, the effect of verapamil on nicotine was not signific
ant. These results indicate that DHP calcium channels (type L-channel)
play a role in some of the pharmacological effects of nicotine, parti
cularly, locomotor activity and antinociception.