Interaction between calcium and slow channel blocking drugs on atrial rate

The relationship between extracellular calcium concentration and the chronotropic effect of prenylamine, verapamil and nifedipine was studied in isolated spontaneously beating rat atria. The three slow channel blocking drugs produced a concentration-dependent decrease in atrial rate, though with different relative potencies. The order of potency for decreasing atrial rate, independently of the calcium level (1.0, 3.0, 6.0 or 9.0 mmol/l) was: verapamil > nifedipine > prenylamine. Increasing calcium from 1.0 to 6.0 and 9.0 mmol/l increased atrial rate from 251±beats·min−1 to 265±6 beats·min−1 and 285±9 beats·min−1 (mean±1 standard error) respectively (P