Vasodilatation evoked by K+ channel opening.
In arterial smooth muscle with normal tone or predepolarized and precontracted by noradrenaline, iloprost effects a dose-dependent hyperpolarization and relaxation. The hyperpolarization is due to K+ channel opening. In hypoxic vasodilatation, which is likewise induced by membrane hyperpolarization, a share of 20-30% falls to prostacyclin and 70-80% to an endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor.
Siegel
G
G
Institute of Physiology, Free University of Berlin, Germany.
Mironneau
J
J
Schnalke
F
F
Schröder
G
G
Schulz
B G
BG
Grote
J
J
D000818:Animals; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D016285:Iloprost; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D014664:Vasodilation
D015221:Potassium Channels; D011464:Epoprostenol; D016285:Iloprost