title: Activation of a small-conductance Ca(2+)-dependent K+ channel contributes to bradykinin-induced stimulation of nitric oxide synthesis in pig aortic endothelial cells.
abstract: Bradykinin-induced K+ currents, membrane hyperpolarization, as well as rises in cytoplasmic Ca2+ and cGMP levels were studied in endothelial cells cultured from pig aorta. Exposure of endothelial cells to 1 microM bradykinin induced a whole-cell K+ current and activated a small-conductance (approximately 9 pS) K+ channel in on-cell patches. This K+ channel lacked voltage sensitivity, was activated by increasing the Ca2+ concentration at the cytoplasmic face of inside-out patches and blocked by extracellular tetrabutylammonium (TBA). Bradykinin concomitantly increased membrane potential and cytoplasmic Ca2+ of endothelial cells. In high (140 mM) extracellular K+ solution, as well as in the presence of the K(+)-channel blocker TBA (10 mM), bradykinin-induced membrane hyperpolarization was abolished and increases in cytoplasmic Ca2+ were reduced to a slight transient response. Bradykinin-induced rises in intracellular cGMP levels which reflect Ca(2+)-dependent formation of EDRF(NO) were clearly attenuated in the presence of TBA (10 mM). Our results suggest that bradykinin hyperpolarizes pig aortic endothelial cells by activation of small-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels. Opening of these K+ channels results in membrane hyperpolarization which promotes Ca2+ entry, and consequently, NO synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Groschner
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Graier
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Kukovetz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001920:Bradykinin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D003902:Detergents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D003902:Detergents; D015221:Potassium Channels; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C009405:tetrabutylammonium; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D001920:Bradykinin; D002118:Calcium