EFFECTS OF CD-832, A NEW CALCIUM-ANTAGONIST, ON INTRACRANIAL-PRESSUREIN ANESTHETIZED DOGS

Effects of a new calcium antagonist, CD-832, on intracranial pressure (ICP), vertebral blood now (VBF) and common carotid blood flow (CCBF) were investigated in dogs and the results were compared with findings for nifedipine and diltiaem. Dogs were anesthetized with sodium pentob arbital and a 20-gauge needle was inserted into the cisterna magna for ICP determination. Mean arterial blood pressure (MBP), heart I-ate (H R), ICP, VBF and CCBF were measured before and during the continous in travenous infusion of CD-832 (0.3, 1 and 3 mu g/kg/min), nifedipine (0 .1, 0.3 and 1 mu g/kg/min) or diltiazem (1, 3 and 10 mu g/kg/min). Alt hough the three drugs caused a comparable hypotension, differences wer e evident in effects of these agents on ICP, VBF and CCBF. Nifedipine and diltiazem but not CD-832 significantly increased ICP, VBF and CCBF . These results suggest that CD-832 is a unique calcium antagonist whi ch does not increase ICP during hypotension. Because the most evident side effects of calcium antagonists are caused by vasodilation and inc lude headache and flushing, CD-832 may possibly be useful to treat sub jects with hypertension or angina pectoris. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.