title: Comparison of the vasorelaxing effect of cromakalim and the new inodilator, levosimendan, in human isolated portal vein.
abstract: In the present study the vasorelaxing capacity of cromakalim, an ATP-sensitive potassium-channel (KATP channel) activator, and that of levosimendan, a new positive inotropic and vasodilating drug with calcium sensitizing and potassium-channel-activating properties, were compared in human isolated portal vein. Based on the 50% effective concentrations (EC50), levosimendan was found to be about 16-fold more potent (EC50 = 0.281+/-0.03 microM) as a relaxing agent than cromakalim (EC50 = 4.53+/-0.12 microM) in noradrenaline-precontracted portal venous preparations. Glibenclamide, the known inhibitor of KATP channels, was able to prevent the cromakalim-induced venodilation completely. Glibenclamide (15 microM) decreased the quasi-maximal effect of levosimendan (at 1.27 microm by about 60%) and also the effects of those submicromolar concentrations of the inodilator (at 0.1 microM by 23%, at 0.3 microM by 27% and at 0.7 microM by 19%, on average) which were therapeutically effective in preliminary human studies. These findings indicate that, in the human portal vein, both cromakalim and levosimendan are powerful vasorelaxants and that a considerable part of the relaxing effect induced by levosimendan is of cromakalim type.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical University, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pataricza
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hõhn
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balogh
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Papp
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019806:Cromakalim / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006835:Hydrazones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000187:drug effects*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077464:Simendan; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D006835:Hydrazones; D015221:Potassium Channels; D011724:Pyridazines; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D019806:Cromakalim; D000077464:Simendan