title: K+ATP-channel activation causes marked vasodilation in the hypertensive neonatal pig lung.
abstract: We studied the potential role of ATP-sensitive potassium (K+ATP) channel activation in mediating pulmonary vasodilation in newborn piglets. Piglet lungs (n = 14, ages 1-4 days) were artificially perfused with recirculating Ringer solution containing bovine serum albumin and statistically inflated using 95% O2-5% CO2. We measured pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa) and distribution of pulmonary vascular resistance (using double-occlusion method). Under resting conditions (Ppa 13.7 +/- 1.6 cmH2O, mean +/- SE), the K+ATP channel agonist BRL 38227 (lemakalim, 10(-7) and 10(-6) M) caused small dose-dependent pulmonary vasodilation. This response was diminished by the K+ATP-channel blocker glibenclamide (10(-5) M). Pretreatment of lungs with indomethacin (10(-5) M) and N omega-nitro-L-arginine (10(-5) M) to inhibit cyclooxygenase- and nitric oxide (NO)-related vasodilation, respectively, resulted in a marked increase in the baseline Ppa to 85.6 +/- 11.2 cmH2O. Injection of BRL 38227 (10(-7) M and 10(-6) M) in these lungs decreased Ppa to 72.5 +/- 8.5 (P < 0.01) and 19.3 +/- 0.9 cmH2O (P < 0.01), respectively; the corresponding times for half-recovery of Ppa (t1/2R) were 5.7 +/- 4.3 and > 20 min. Glibenclamide (10(-5) M) abolished the response to 10(-7) M BRL 38227 and significantly diminished (P < 0.05) the decreases in Ppa and t1/2R in response to 10(-6) M BRL 38227 but not to acetylcholine (10(-10) M). We conclude that activation of K+ATP channels has a minimal role in maintaining basal pulmonary vasomotor tone but is able to induce marked vasodilation when NO and cyclooxygenase-dependent vasodilatory mechanisms are inhibited.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Albany Medical College of Union University, New York 12208.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Malik
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D001578:Benzopyrans / Q000494:pharmacology; D019806:Cromakalim; D005260:Female; D005905:Glyburide / Q000494:pharmacology; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology; D013552:Swine; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001578:Benzopyrans; D015221:Potassium Channels; D011758:Pyrroles; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D019806:Cromakalim; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D005905:Glyburide