Nitrendipine, a slightly soluble calcium channel blocking agent forms a solid dispersion system with $hydroxypropyl-{eta}-cyclodextrin$, which exhibits better dissolution characteristics than the uncomplexed drug. The dissolution rate of nitrendipine was markedly increased in solid dispersion system in pharmacopeial disintegration media at pH 1.2 and pH 6.8. Four different dosage forms of nitrendipine were administered to rats: (a) nitrendipine in the solution of PEG 400; (b) nitrendipine solid dispersion system with $hydroxypropyl-{eta}-cyclodextrin$ in a molar ratio of 1:2 by solvent evaporation method and administered in capsule form; (c) physical mixture of nitrendipine with $hydroxypropyl-{eta}-cyclodextrin$ in a molar ratio of 1:2 and administered in capsule form; (d) nitrendipine alone administered in capsule form. Relative bioavailability after the oral administration of various dosage forms to rats with a dose of 10 mg/kg equivalent to nitrendipine was compared with that of nitrendipine in the solution of PEG 400. The AUC of solid dispersion was significantly bigger than that of nitrendipine powder. $T_{max}$ of solid dispersion was significantly shorter and $C_{max}$ was higher than that of nitrendipine powder. These results indicate that the bioavailability of nitrendipine could be improved markedly by inclusion complexation. An interesting correlation also appears to exist between the in vitro dissolution data and the area under the plasma concentration-time curves.