Biomaterial Database

Role of potassium channels in the vascular response to endogenous and pharmacological vasodilators. 1991

J E Brayden, and J M Quayle, and N B Standen, and M T Nelson

Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington.

Many endogenous and pharmacological vasodilators hyperpolarize vascular smooth muscle and this response appears to be due to an increased conductance to potassium ions. The hyperpolarization may contribute to the mechanism of dilation by causing voltage-dependent calcium channels to close. Recent evidence indicates that the response to hyperpolarizing vasodilators is mediated through activation of ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels. Single KATP channels on isolated vascular smooth muscle cells are activated by cromakalim and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). This response is inhibited by glibenclamide. Cromakalim, CGRP and other vasodilators hyperpolarize and relax arteries in vitro and these responses are reversed by glibenclamide. The hypotensive effects of these agents in vivo are antagonized by glibenclamide. We propose that activation of KATP channels and the associated membrane hyperpolarization represents an important general mechanism of vasodilation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009131	Muscle, Smooth, Vascular	The nonstriated involuntary muscle tissue of blood vessels.	Vascular Smooth Muscle,Muscle, Vascular Smooth,Muscles, Vascular Smooth,Smooth Muscle, Vascular,Smooth Muscles, Vascular,Vascular Smooth Muscles
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014664	Vasodilation	The physiological widening of BLOOD VESSELS by relaxing the underlying VASCULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE.	Vasodilatation,Vasorelaxation,Vascular Endothelium-Dependent Relaxation,Endothelium-Dependent Relaxation, Vascular,Relaxation, Vascular Endothelium-Dependent,Vascular Endothelium Dependent Relaxation
D014665	Vasodilator Agents	Drugs used to cause dilation of the blood vessels.	Vasoactive Antagonists,Vasodilator,Vasodilator Agent,Vasodilator Drug,Vasorelaxant,Vasodilator Drugs,Vasodilators,Vasorelaxants,Agent, Vasodilator,Agents, Vasodilator,Antagonists, Vasoactive,Drug, Vasodilator,Drugs, Vasodilator
D015221	Potassium Channels	Cell membrane glycoproteins that are selectively permeable to potassium ions. At least eight major groups of K channels exist and they are made up of dozens of different subunits.	Ion Channels, Potassium,Ion Channel, Potassium,Potassium Channel,Potassium Ion Channels,Channel, Potassium,Channel, Potassium Ion,Channels, Potassium,Channels, Potassium Ion,Potassium Ion Channel