Pharmacological and toxicological properties of ryodipine.

2,6-Dimethyl-3,5-dimethoxycarbonyl-4-(o-difluoromethoxy-p hen yl)-1,4-dihydropyridine (ryodipine, PP-1466) causes lasting decrease in systolic and diastolic arterial pressure at intravenous and oral administration to anesthetized animals. In conscious rats with DOCA-salt (des-oxycortone) and spontaneous hypertension, as well as in rats with hypertension provoked by method of cellophane perinephritis, PP-1466 (1 and 10 mg/kg, orally) decreases systolic pressure considerably. Therapeutic doses of PP-1466 do not essentially affect rhythm and frequency of cardiac contractions.