Pinacidil increases the background potassium current in single ventricular cells.
Pinacidil, a new antihypertensive agent, increased the background (inward rectifier) potassium current and abolished its negative slope, and did not change the time-dependent component of the outward (delayed outward) current in single ventricular cells isolated from the guinea-pig heart. These effects must be responsible for the negative inotropic action of this drug.
D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005711:Gallopamil / Q000494:pharmacology; D006146:Guanidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020110:Pinacidil; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D006146:Guanidines; D007473:Ion Channels; D005711:Gallopamil; D020110:Pinacidil; D011188:Potassium