Experimental research on the effect of calcium channel blockers nifedipine and verapamil on the anxiety in mice.

The anxiolytic effect of the calcium channel blockers nifedipine and verapamil was tested in mice using two test: the conditioned suppression of the motility test and the black and white box test. The nifedipine but not the verapamil, in low doses (0.1 mg/kg b.w), proved anxiolytic effect and both nifedipine and verapamil in high dose (1.6-2.5 mg/kg b.w) had anxiogenic properties. The anxiogenic effect was correlated with the capacity of the drugs to block the calcium channels and the anxiolytic effect of low doses of the nifedipine was considered to be produced by opening these structures. These data were considered important for a new future aboard of the treatment and pathophysiology of the anxiety.