title: K+ channel openers and insulin release.
abstract: Recent in vivo and in vitro experiments suggested that the smooth muscle relaxation mediated by diverse pharmacologic agents resulted from K+ channel opening. Pinacidil, cromakalim, nicorandil, RP 49356, minoxidil sulfate and diazoxide belong to this new group of smooth muscle relaxants: the "K+ channel openers". Because modifications in the K+ permeability are known to represent a critical event in the insulin-releasing process, numerous studies have been performed in order to examine the putative effects of K+ channel openers on B-cell function. The aim of the present review is to summarize these experimental data which are sometimes divergent.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Brussels Free University, School of Medicine, Belgium.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lebrun
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Antoine
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herchuelz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000187:drug effects*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D015221:Potassium Channels