title: [Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel switching in smooth muscle participates in atherosclerosis development in diabetic rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the changes in aorta morphology and Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (KCa) channel expression in the diabetic rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  A diabetic rat model was established by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (30 mg/kg) after a modified high fat and glucose diet for 8 weeks. Pathological changes in the aorta were observed with HE staining, elastic fiber staining, Masson's trichrome staining and immunohistochemistry. Both the mRNA and protein levels of KCa channels in the aorta were measured by RT-PCR and Western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Early atherosclerotic changes were observed in the aorta wall of the diabetic rats. The mRNA and protein levels of KCa1.1 channel α- and β-subunits were significantly decreased, while the expression of KCa3.1 channels was obviously enhanced in the middle layer of the aorta in the diabetic rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  KCa channel switching in smooth muscles may play a role in the development of atherosclerosis in diabetic rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Medicine, Xi'an 710061, China.E-mail: wangyan2010@mail.xjtu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Limei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xingli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Xiuling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Deng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000473:pathology*; D051660:Intermediate-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D051037:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D051660:Intermediate-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels; C494842:Kcnma1 protein, rat; C491575:Kcnn4 protein, rat; D051037:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits