ATP-sensitive potassium channel openers may mimic the effects of hypoxic preconditioning on the coronary artery.
BACKGROUND
This study was designed to investigate the effects of the potassium channel opener KRN4884 in mimicking hypoxic preconditioning on coronary arteries and to explore the possible mechanisms.


METHODS
In the organ chamber, porcine coronary artery rings (n = 96) were studied in 6 groups (n = 16 in each group): I.


METHODS
normoxia (pO2 > 200 mmHg); II. Hypoxia-reoxygenation: 60-minute hypoxia (pO2 < 15 mmHg) followed by 30-minute reoxygenation; III. Preconditioning: 5-minute hypoxia followed by 10-minute reoxygenation prior to hypoxia-reoxygenation; IV. KRN4884-pretreatment: KRN4884 (30 microM) was added into the chamber 20 minutes before hypoxia-reoxygenation; V. 5-HD-pretreatment: sodium 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD, 10 microM) was given 20 minutes prior to KRN4884-pretreatment; and VI. GBC-pretreatment: glibenclamide (GBC, 3 microM) was added 20 minutes prior to KRN4884-pretreatment. Concentration-contraction curves for U46619 (n = 8 in each group) were constructed. Concentration-relaxation curves for bradykinin (n = 8 in each group) related to endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) were established in the rings precontracted with U46619 (30 microM) in the presence of Nomega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, 300 microM) and indomethacin (7 microM).


RESULTS
The maximal relaxation induced by bradykinin was reduced in hypoxia-reoxygenation (54.6 +/- 4.3% versus 85.2 +/- 5.7% in control, p = 0.001). This reduced relaxation was recovered in KRN4884-pretreatment (78.9 +/- 3.7%, p = 0.014) or preconditioning (79.9 +/- 3.7%, p = 0.009). 5-HD- but not GBC-pretreatment abolished the effect of KRN4884-pretreatment (78.9 +/- 3.7% versus 53.5 +/- 4.7%, p = 0.009).


CONCLUSIONS
Hypoxia-reoxygenation reduces the relaxation mediated by EDHF in the coronary artery. This function can be restored by either hypoxic preconditioning or the potassium channel opener KRN4884. The mechanism of such effect is mainly related to the mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K+ channels.
Ren
Z
Z
Cardiovascular Research, Starr Academic Center, Providence Heart Institute, St Vincent Hospital, Portland, Oregon, USA.
Yang
Q
Q
Floten
H S
HS
Furnary
A P
AP
Yim
A P
AP
He
G W
GW
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000502:physiology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D019157:Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D013552:Swine; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D001685:Biological Factors; C096484:KRN 4884; D015221:Potassium Channels; D011725:Pyridines; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C067410:endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization factor; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate