title: The effect of a selective inhibition of potassium channels on the relaxation induced by nitric oxide in the human pregnant myometrium.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate whether apamin-sensitive K(+)channels play a role in the NO induced relaxation of the human pregnant myometrium. Concentration-response curves for sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (10(-9)-10(-4)M) were constructed in the absence and presence of 10(-8)M apamin and 10(-7)M charybdotoxin (CTX). Preincubation with apamin resulted in a significant attenuation of the relaxation caused by SNP, while pre-treatment with CTX insignificantly decreased the SNP induced relaxation. Our findings suggest that apamin-sensitive K(+)channels exist in the human pregnant myometrium and play a role in modulation of the myometrium response to NO donors
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, Medical University of Białystok, Mickiewicza 2A, Poland. beamo@amb.edu.pl
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Modzelewska
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kleszczewski
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kostrzewska
mesh_terms: D001030:Apamin / Q000494:pharmacology; D018999:Charybdotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009215:Myometrium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000494:pharmacology; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015221:Potassium Channels; D018999:Charybdotoxin; D009599:Nitroprusside; D001030:Apamin; D009569:Nitric Oxide