CALCIUM-CHANNEL BLOCKERS AND ANTIOXIDANT LEVELS

The aim of this study was to determine in vitro whether calcium channe l blockers (nifedipine and nimodipine) exert their antiperoxidative ef fect by changing the antioxidant levels. Four antioxidant markers in r ed blood cells were investigated: membrane thiol, lysate thiol, lysate total glutathione and lysate superoxide dismutase. These antioxidant markers were measured after cells were incubated with varying concentr ations of nifedipine and nimodipine (1-1000 ng/ml) for different time periods (0-120 min). The results showed that neither nifedipine nor ni modipine significantly increased antioxidant levels. In conclusion, it appears that calcium channel blockers are unable to elevate the level s of the physiological antioxidant agents detected in this in vitro ex periment.