title: Potassium channels and the cerebral circulation.
abstract: 1. Hyperpolarization of vascular muscle in response to activation of potassium channels is a major mechanism of vasodilatation. 2. In cerebral blood vessels, two potassium channels have received considerable study recently: ATP-sensitive and calcium-dependent potassium channels. Activation of these potassium channels appears to play a major role in the relaxation of cerebral arteries and arterioles in response to diverse stimuli, including receptor-mediated agonists, intracellular second messengers, reactive oxygen species and hypoxia. 3. The functional influence of ATP-sensitive and calcium-dependent potassium channels may be altered in disease states, including hypertension, diabetes and subarachnoid haemorrhage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Center, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City 52242, USA.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Faraci
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Sobey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels