title: Preferential small arteriolar vasodilatation by the potassium channel opener, BRL 38227, in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats.
abstract: The microvascular effects of the potassium channel opener, BRL 38227 (the active enantiomer of cromakalim), were investigated in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) provided with a chronic dorsal microcirculatory chamber. BRL 38227 decreased blood pressure and increased heart rate in a dose-dependent manner. It dilated arterioles of different sizes, with the most pronounced effect on the smallest precapillary arterioles. Venule diameters were not significantly affected by BRL 38227. The data show a preferential sensitivity of small precapillary arterioles for potassium channel opening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Limburg, Maastricht, Netherlands.
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Struijker Boudier
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Messing
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van Essen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001160:Arterioles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001578:Benzopyrans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D019806:Cromakalim; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001578:Benzopyrans; D015221:Potassium Channels; D011758:Pyrroles; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D019806:Cromakalim