Abstract

SR 33557 represents a new class of compounds (indolizine sulfone) that inhibit L-type Ca2+ channels. [3H]SR 33557 has been shown to bind with high affinity (Kd congruent to 0.36 nM, calculated from saturation isotherms and association/dissociation kinetics) to a single class of sites in a purified preparation of rat cardiac sarcolemmal membranes. The binding was found to be saturable and reversible. The maximal binding capacity was in approximately 1:1 stoichiometry with that of other Ca2+ channel antagonists. Various divalent cations (Mg2+, Mn2+, Ca2+, Ba2+, and Cd2+) were shown to inhibit specific [3H]SR 33557 binding, with Cd2+ being the most potent. Among several receptor or channel ligands (including omega-conotoxin and Na+ and K+ channel modulators), only the L-type Ca2+ channel antagonists were found to displace [3H]SR 33557. However, dihydropyridines, phenylalkylamines, benzothiazepines, and diphenylbutylpiperidines were found to inhibit [3H]SR 33557 in a noncompetitive manner as demonstrated by displacement and saturation experiments in addition to dissociation kinetics. From these results, we suggest that SR 33557 binds with high affinity to a unique site on the L-type Ca2+ channel found in rat cardiac sarcolemmal membranes.