title: Distribution and physiological roles of ATP-sensitive K+ channels in the vertebrobasilar system of the rabbit.
abstract: The effect of an opener (levcromakalim) and a blocker (glibenclamide) of ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels was investigated in the vertebrobasilar system of the rabbit. Arterial tension and membrane potential were measured by the isometric tension recording method and the microelectrode technique, respectively. Glibenclamide (10(-6) mol/L) depolarized the membrane and potentiated the contraction to histamine in vertebral arteries. The sensitivity to the relaxant effects of levcromakalim was in the following descending order: vertebral > proximal basilar > distal basilar > superior cerebellar arteries. Vertebral arteries were approximately 50 times more sensitive to levcromakalim than were superior cerebellar arteries. The relaxation to levcromakalim was abolished by glibenclamide (10(-6) mol/L). Glibenclamide attenuated vasorelaxation to adenosine in proximal arteries (vertebral and proximal basilar) but not in superior cerebellar arteries. Levcromakalim (7 x 10(-8) mol/L) and adenosine (10(-5) mol/L) induced glibenclamide-sensitive membrane hyperpolarization in vertebral arteries but not in distal basilar arteries. These results suggest that KATP channels contribute to the determination of resting membrane potential and resting tone in vertebral arteries. Furthermore, there is a marked heterogeneity in the sensitivity to an opener of KATP channels, and the heterogeneity has a functional link to the mechanism underlying vasorelaxation to adenosine in the vertebrobasilar system of the rabbit.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagao
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ibayashi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sadoshima
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohya
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujishima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000502:physiology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005905:Glyburide / Q000494:pharmacology; D006632:Histamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D015221:Potassium Channels; D006632:Histamine; D005905:Glyburide