Hypercholesterolemia alters vascular functions and gene expression of potassium channels in rat aortic smooth muscle cells.
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.
Ren
Y J
YJ
Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
Xu
X H
XH
Zhong
C B
CB
Feng
N
N
Wang
X L
XL
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
D015221:Potassium Channels; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying; D012333:RNA, Messenger