Sensitivity of Alpha-adrenoceptor Agonists to the Calcium Channel Activator, Bay K 8644, in Canine Saphenous Vein

The purpose of the present study was to determine if the calcium channel activator, Bay K 8644, enhances the vasoconstrictor actions of selective alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists in canine saphenous vein. Phenylephrine (PE) and St 587 were used as fully and partially selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonists, B-HT 920 and B-HT 958 were used as fully and partially selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists. Bay K 8644 (10(-8) M) markedly potentiated B-HT-958-mediated vasoconstrictor responses with a leftward shift and an increase in the maximum response of the logarithmic dose-response curve. Bay K 8644 produced less potentiation of responses to B-HT 920 and had minimal effects on responses to St 587 and PE. The intrinsic activities of the alpha-adrenoceptor agonists, as compared to the maximum response obtained by norepinephrine, in decreasing order, were PE greater than St 587 greater than B-HT 920 greater than B-HT 958, whereas the susceptibility of alpha-adrenoceptor agonists to potentiation by Bay K 8644 in decreasing order were B-HT 958 greater than B-HT 920 greater than St 587 greater than PE. These results suggest that Bay K 8644 preferentially improves the receptor-response coupling of alpha-adrenoceptor agonists with low intrinsic activity (alpha 2-agonists) versus agonists with high intrinsic activity (alpha-agonists) in canine saphenous vein.