Verapamil and loperamide; to compare the inhibitory effects on isolated guinea pig ileum

In smooth muscle cells, an increase in cytosolic free calcium concentration is an essential step for the cells to contract. The increase in calcium concentration occurs by influx from the extra cellular medium through calcium ion channels. Calcium channels have potential role in regulation of motility in gastrointestinal tract so there is growing interest in calcium channel blockers as a potential pharmacological approach to the treatment of various gastrointestinal motor disorders. In this study we evaluate the inhibitory effects of verapamil on spontaneous contractions of isolated guinea pig ileum and compare them with inhibitory effects of loperamide. Isolated intestinal segments of sixteen guinea pigs were used in this study. Serial dilutions [10-18 -10-3 gm/ml] of loperamide and verapamil were administered; effects observed and recorded by 7B Grass Polygraph machine. We observed that at lower concentrations, loperamide showed more inhibitory effects than verapamil while at higher concentrations [10-4 and 10-3 gm/ml] verapamil showed more inhibitory effects than loperamide on the contractions of isolated guinea pig ileum. This study gave us a clue that verapamil found a potent inhibitor of small intestinal contractions as loperamide. However one can presume further that calcium channel blocker verapamil acting on calcium channel receptor on GIT will be developed with more specific effects on smooth muscle of intestinal tract

Role of indapamide on hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy

Left ventricular hypertrophy [LVH] is a sequelae of sustained prolonged systemic hypertension Initially it is a compensatory mechanism but later on the left ventricular hypertrophy carriers the risk of arrhythmias, congestive cardiac failure, angina, systolic as well as diastolic dysfunction, greater intensity and risk of myocardial infarction and cardiac rupture. The Framingham Heart Study and other studies have shown LVH as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Some classes of drug cause regression of LVH e.g. ACE inihibitor, AT[1] receptor blockers, calcium channel blockers, B blockers and methyldopa. The effect of diuretics on regression are equivocal. we gave indapamide 2.5mg to 7 pts with echocardiographic evidence of LVH and found that LVID [mm] [mean + SEM] decreased from 50.7 +/- 1.2 to 50.20 +/- 1.70, IVST [mean + SEM] decreased from 14.10 +/- 0.4 to 11.9 +/- 0.30, PWT [mean +SEM] decreased from 13.0 +/- 0.3 to 11.2 +/- 0.2 and LVMI [mean +SEM] decreased from 176.42 +/- 6.13 to 145.25 + 6.04g/m[2]