Effect of oxodipine, a novel dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, in neurogenic hypertensive dogs

The effects of an acute intravenous injection of oxodipine (5, 20 and 50 micrograms/kg), a new dihydropyridine Calcium Channel blocker, on blood pressure and heart rate were investigated in arterial neurogenic hypertension elicited in anesthetized dogs by acute sinoaortic denervation. This model is associated with disruption of baroreflex pathways and heart denervation, allowing a direct investigation of the effects of the drug on heart rate and blood vessels. The low dose (5 micrograms/kg) of oxodipine remained ineffective, whereas doses of 20 and 50 micrograms/kg of oxodipine elicited a decrease in blood pressure with no change in heart rate. These results suggest that, in contrast to other first generation dihydropyridines, oxodipine exerts a relatively specific action on blood vessels without significant intrinsic negative chronotropic properties in anesthetized sinoaortic-denervated dogs.