title: Cerebral arteriolar dilations by KATP channel activators need L-lysine or L-arginine.
abstract: We investigated the effects of various amino acids on responses to ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel openers in anesthetized cats equipped with cranial windows. The application of pinacidil by superfusion caused transient vasodilation, whereas there was sustained vasodilation from the application of stationary solution of pinacidil. In the presence of L-arginine or L-lysine, pinacidil by superfusion led to sustained vasodilation, suggesting that the rapid flow of fluid displaced these amino acids from binding on the channel and that such binding was essential for opening the channel. NG-nitro-L-arginine blocked responses to pinacidil, and this blockade was reversed by L-lysine or L-arginine but not by D-arginine, D-lysine, methyl-L-arginine, glycine, L-histidine, dimethylarginine, dimethyl-L-arginine, or hydroxylysine. The blockade of responses to pinacidil induced by glyburide was also reversed completely by L-arginine or L-lysine but not by D-arginine, suggesting that these amino acids act on the sulfonylurea receptor. Hydroxylysine but not methyl-L-lysine, dimethylarginine, or dimethyl-L-arginine blocked responses to pinacidil. The findings show that KATP channels in cerebral arterioles need L-lysine or L-arginine to open in response to agonists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Medical College of Virginia Campus, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298, USA.
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Kontos
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001160:Arterioles / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply*; D002415:Cats; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006146:Guanidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000187:drug effects; D008239:Lysine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008914:Minoxidil / Q000494:pharmacology; D019335:Nitroarginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D020110:Pinacidil; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D006146:Guanidines; D015221:Potassium Channels; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D019335:Nitroarginine; D008914:Minoxidil; D020110:Pinacidil; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D001120:Arginine; D008239:Lysine