title: Effects of isoflurane on K+ and Ca2+ conductance in isolated smooth muscle cells of canine cerebral arteries.
abstract: Although isoflurane is a known cerebral vasodilator, the mechanism of isoflurane-induced vasodilation is not clear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 2.6% isoflurane (1.2 mM) on macroscopic calcium and potassium channel currents in voltage-clamped canine middle cerebral artery cells. Cells were dialyzed with K(+)-glutamate solution and superfused with Tyrode's solution for measurement of potassium current (n = 20). Stepwise depolarization from a holding potential of -60 mV to beyond -30 mV elicited an outward, slowly inactivating potassium current that was reduced 50% +/- 2% and 81% +/- 3% (mean +/- SEM) in the presence of 1 mM 4-aminopyridine and 30 mM tetraethylammonium, respectively. Calcium ionophore (A23187, 10 microM) increased the potassium current by 76% +/- 3%, suggesting calcium dependency. Isoflurane reduced the amplitude of the potassium current by 35% +/- 4%. Calcium current was measured in cells dialyzed with solution containing 130 mM Cs(+)-glutamate and superfused with solution containing 10 mM BaCl2 and 135 mM tetraethylammonium to pharmacologically isolate the calcium current (n = 13). Under these conditions, progressive depolarizing steps from -60 mV elicited an inward current that was maximally activated at +20 mV and essentially eliminated by 1 microM nifedipine. This current, resembling a long-lasting (L-type) Ca2+ channel current, was reduced 40% +/- 4% by isoflurane. The results of this study suggest that isoflurane acts directly at the vascular muscle membrane to suppress transmembrane calcium and potassium currents. The decrease in calcium current would cause vasodilation; however, the concomitant decrease in potassium current may partially antagonize the depressant effect of isoflurane mediated through calcium current reduction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Buljubasic
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marijic
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Rusch
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kampine
authors.forename: Z J
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Bosnjak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004285:Dogs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D015221:Potassium Channels; D007530:Isoflurane