title: Calcium channels, potassium channels, and voltage dependence of arterial smooth muscle tone.
abstract: Resistance arteries exist in a maintained contracted state from which they can dilate or constrict depending on need. In many cases, these arteries constrict to membrane depolarization and dilate to membrane hyperpolarization and Ca-channel blockers. We discuss recent information on the regulation of arterial smooth muscle voltage-dependent Ca channels by membrane potential and vasoconstrictors and on the regulation of membrane potential and K channels by vasodilators. We show that voltage-dependent Ca channels in the steady state can be open and very sensitive to membrane potential changes in a range that occurs in resistance arteries with tone. Many synthetic and endogenous vasodilators act, at least in part, through membrane hyperpolarization caused by opening K channels. We discuss evidence that these vasodilators act on a common target, the ATP-sensitive K (KATP) channel that is inhibited by sulfonylurea drugs. We propose the following hypotheses that presently explain these findings: 1) arterial smooth muscle tone is regulated by membrane potential primarily through the voltage dependence of Ca channels; 2) many vasoconstrictors act, in part, by opening voltage-dependent Ca channels through membrane depolarization and activation by second messengers; and 3) many vasodilators work, in part, through membrane hyperpolarization caused by KATP channel activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Vermont, Burlington 05405.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Patlak
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Worley
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Standen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D008433:Mathematics; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008954:Models, Biological; D009129:Muscle Tonus; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D015221:Potassium Channels