title: Graded response of K+ current, membrane potential, and [Ca2+]i to hypoxia in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle.
abstract: Many studies indicate that hypoxic inhibition of some K+ channels in the membrane of the pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) plays a part in initiating hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. The sensitivity of the K+ current (I(k)), resting membrane potential (E(m)), and intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) of PASMCs to different levels of hypoxia in these cells has not been explored fully. Reducing PO2 levels gradually inhibited steady-state I(k) of rat resistance PASMCs and depolarized the cell membrane. The block of I(k) by hypoxia was voltage dependent in that low O2 tensions (3 and 0% O2) inhibited I(k) more at 0 and -20 mV than at 50 mV. As expected, the hypoxia-sensitive I(k) was also 4-aminopyridine sensitive. Fura 2-loaded PASMCs showed a graded increase in [Ca2+]i as PO2 levels declined. This increase was reduced markedly by nifedipine and removal of extracellular Ca2+. We conclude that, as in the carotid body type I cells, PC-12 pheochromocytoma cells, and cortical neurons, increasing severity of hypoxia causes a proportional decrease in I(k) and E(m) and an increase of [Ca2+]i.
authors.affiliation: Justus Liebig University, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olschewski
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Daniel P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: E Kenneth
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Weir
mesh_terms: D015761:4-Aminopyridine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000502:physiology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D015221:Potassium Channels; C064719:iberiotoxin; D015761:4-Aminopyridine; D002118:Calcium