The Influence of Blood Pressure on Intracellular CA²⁺ Content in Erythrocytes: Effects of Cadmium Chloride and Nifedipine

Abstract

Cellular abnormalities associated with elevated Can+ concentrations have been postulated to be involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of blood pressure changes on cytosolic Ca²⁺ levels in erythrocytes. Cadmium, which has been implicated in the etiology of hypertension was used as the hypertensive agent and the classical blocker of voltage-operated calcium channels nifedipine was used to treat hypertension. 10 weeks old male rats were divided into four groups; control, CdCl2, CdCl2 and nifedipine, nifedipine groups. CdC12 caused elevations in blood pressure and in the cytosolic erythrocyte Ca²⁺ levels both of which were reduced after nifedipine administration. After nifedipine alone, cytosolic Ca²⁺ levels were increased. These findings suggest that cytosolic Ca²⁺ content decreasing action of nifedipine in the CdC12 and nifedipine applied group could be secondary to the antihypertensive.

Key Words:

• Spectrofluorophotometer
• CdCl₂
• nifedipine
• fura-2AM