title: Hypercholesterolemia alters vascular functions and gene expression of potassium channels in rat aortic smooth muscle cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of hypercholesterolemia on functions of rat aorta and on gene expression of inward rectifier and ATP-sensitive potassium channels in aortic smooth muscle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were treated with high-cholesterol emulsion ig for 2 weeks; the aortic rings with and without endothelium were prepared to examine the aortic contractile and relaxation responses; RT-PCR was used to observe the gene expression of inward rectifier and ATP-sensitive potassium channels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hypercholesterolemia damaged the endothelium-dependent vascular functions severely, but did not affect the endothelium-independent vascular functions; Kir6.2 mRNA expression was upregulated (P < 0.05) and Kir3.1 mRNA expression was downregulated markedly (P < 0.05) in hypercholesterolemic smooth muscle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypercholesterolemia altered the vascular functions and regulated gene expression levels of specific inward rectifier and ATP-sensitive potassium channel subtypes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
authors.forename: Y J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: X H
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: X L
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying; D012333:RNA, Messenger