Pharmacological Effects of Flurazepam and Diazepam on Isolated Canine Arteries

The effects of flurazepam and diazepam, benzodiazepine derivatives, on contractions (or contractures) induced by Ca++, K+ or norepinephrine were examined in the isolated canine coronary artery and thoracic aorta. Ca++-Induced contraction was evoked by cumulative addition of CaCl2 to Ca++-depleted K+-depolarizing solution; K+: and norepinephrine-induced contractions were evoked by cumulative addition of KCl and norepinephrine, respectively, to the medium. Flurazepam and diazepam (1×10−5, 3×10−5 and 1×10−4 M for coronary artery; 3×10−5 and 1×10−4 M for thoracic aorta) shifted the dose-response curves for KCl downwards in a non-competitive manner, and shifted the dose-response curves for CaCI2 to the right in a competitive manner. Ca++-Induced contracture was inhibited completely by addition of flurazepam or diazepam (1×10−4 M), and the inhibition was reversed dose-dependently by addition of CaCI2. Flurazepam and diazepam (3×10−5 and 1×10−4 M) shifted the dose-response curves for norepinephrine both rightwards and downwards in the thoracic aorta. These findings suggest that flurazepam and diazepam inhibit Ca++-influx into the cells (Ca++-antagonistic effect), causing relaxation and inhibition of K+-, Ca++-, or norepinephrine-induced contraction (or contracture) of the vascular smooth muscle.