title: Effects of potassium channel openers in isolated human cerebral arteries.
abstract: The objective of this study was to compare the relaxant effects of the K+ channel openers pinacidil and lemakalim in isolated human pial arteries with the effects of the dihydropyridines nifedipine and nimodipine and the prostacyclin analog iloprost. Relaxation was measured in vessels contracted by 40 mmol/L K+. In contrast to the potent and consistent relaxant effects of nifedipine, nimodipine, and iloprost, the potency of pinacidil and lemakalim proved to be highly variable and inversely correlated with the onset velocity of the preceding contractions of K+ as well as with the endothelium-dependent relaxation of carbachol. Thus, in contrast to dihydropyridines and iloprost, pinacidil and lemakalim selectively elicited potent relaxations in those arteries that exhibited signs of altered vascular wall functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Hempelmann
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Barth
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Mehdorn
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Pradel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ziegler
mesh_terms: D001578:Benzopyrans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D002217:Carbachol / Q000494:pharmacology; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000187:drug effects*; D019806:Cromakalim; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D006146:Guanidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D016285:Iloprost / Q000494:pharmacology; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009553:Nimodipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D020110:Pinacidil; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001578:Benzopyrans; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D006146:Guanidines; D015221:Potassium Channels; D011758:Pyrroles; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D019806:Cromakalim; D009553:Nimodipine; D020110:Pinacidil; D002217:Carbachol; D009543:Nifedipine; D016285:Iloprost