title: Effect of K+ channel blockade with tetraethylammonium on anesthetic-induced relaxation in canine cerebral and coronary arteries.
abstract: The mechanism by which volatile anesthetics produce their direct effects on vascular smooth muscle remains unknown. The authors previously reported that volatile anesthetics decrease both Ca2+ and K+ currents, however the role of Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels during the vasorelaxation by anesthetics has not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to determine whether blockade of the K+ channel alters the response to volatile anesthetics. Responses were studied in canine middle cerebral arteries and proximal and distal canine coronary arteries. Vascular rings (2-mm length) were suspended in tissue baths, and isometric tension was recorded. Rings were constricted with 40 mM KCl and prostaglandin F2 alpha (middle cerebral arteries only) and subsequently exposed to enflurane (3.25%), halothane (1.35%), and isoflurane (2.1%). Volatile anesthetics produced vasorelaxation with relative potency in order: enflurane > halothane > isoflurane. The procedure was repeated in the presence of the K+ channel blocker tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA, 20 mM). In all groups of vessels TEA alone elicited either no increase or only a transient increase in tension, however constrictions to both agonists were augmented in the presence of TEA. The presence of TEA significantly augmented anesthetic-induced vasorelaxation in small and large coronary vessels and in middle cerebral arteries. However, this effect was more pronounced in the cerebral as compared to coronary arteries. Constrictions produced in cerebral vessels by 15 microM prostaglandin F2 alpha were comparable with constrictions produced by 5 microM prostaglandin F2 alpha in the presence of TEA. The subsequent relaxant response of these vessels to enflurane was also comparable in the two groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marijic
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Buljubasïc
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Coughlan
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kampine
authors.forename: Z J
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Bosnjak
mesh_terms: D000777:Anesthetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004285:Dogs; D004737:Enflurane / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006221:Halothane / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds; D004737:Enflurane; D007530:Isoflurane; D006221:Halothane