There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.
Abstract
Ca2+ channel antagonist drugs inhibit voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in many different
cell types. Inhibition of Ca2+ channels in smooth muscle and cardiac muscle cells
by these drugs is valuable in the therapy of a wide range of cardiovascular disorders
including hypertension, atrial arrhythmia and angina pectoris. Additional uses under
evaluation are protection against ischemic damage during myocardial infarction and
stroke and in a wide range of other conditions. Further understanding of the sites
and mechanisms of action of Ca2+ channel antagonists, as described in this review
by Bill Catterall and Jörg Striessnig, will provide new insight into the design of
novel therapeutic agents acting on Ca2+ channels and provide further understanding
of Ca2+ channel structure and function.