title: Pinacidil actions on ion channels in vascular muscle.
abstract: Electrophysiological and mechanical recordings from isolated single vascular muscle cells and isolated segments of caudal artery showed that pinacidil caused vascular muscle relaxation and hyperpolarization which originates from increased K+ conductance. Voltage-clamp recordings of current flow through single K+ channels strongly suggest that pinacidil increases the specific type of K+ conductance associated with the Ca2+-dependent "big" K+ channel (unit conductance of 200 pS in symmetrical K+ solutions). The increased opening of K+ channels appears certain to be an important cellular mechanism to vasodilation by pinacidil.
authors: Department of Physiology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno.
authors: R K
authors: RK
authors: Hermsmeyer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006146:Guanidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects*; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D020110:Pinacidil; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D006146:Guanidines; D007473:Ion Channels; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D020110:Pinacidil; D011188:Potassium; D009638:Norepinephrine