Inhibitory effects of Rb+ on the responses to levcromakalim and P1060 in the isolated human myometrium

Role of potassium channels in the antinociception induced by agonists of alpha2-adrenoceptors

1. The effect of the administration of pertussis toxin (PTX) as well as modulators of different subtypes of K+ channels on the antinociception induced by clonidine and guanabenz was evaluated in the mouse hot plate test. 2. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin (0.25 microg per mouse i.c.v.) 7 days before the hot-plate test, prevented the antinociception induced by both clonidine (0.08-0.2 mg kg(-1), s.c.) and guanabenz (0.1-0.5 mg kg(-1), s.c.). 3. The administration of the K(ATP) channel openers minoxidil (10 microg per mouse, i.c.v.), pinacidil (25 microg per mouse, i.c.v.) and diazoxide (100 mg kg(-1), p.o.) potentiated the antinociception produced by clonidine and guanabenz whereas the K(ATP) channel blocker gliquidone (6 microg per mouse, i.c.v.) prevented the alpha2 adrenoceptor agonist-induced analgesia. 4. Pretreatment with an antisense oligonucleotide (aODN) to mKv1.1, a voltage-gated K+ channel, at the dose of 2.0 nmol per single i.c.v. injection, prevented the antinociception induced by both clonidine and guanabenz in comparison with degenerate oligonucleotide (dODN)-treated mice. 5. The administration of the Ca2+-gated K+ channel blocker apamin (0.5-2.0 ng per mouse, i.c.v.) never modified clonidine and guanabenz analgesia. 6. At the highest effective doses, none of the drugs used modified animals' gross behaviour nor impaired motor coordination, as revealed by the rota-rod test. 7. The present data demonstrate that both K(ATP) and mKv1.1 K+ channels represent an important step in the transduction mechanism underlying central antinociception induced by activation of alpha2 adrenoceptors.

Potassium channel activation: a potential therapeutic approach?

The physiological role of K+ channel opening by endogenous substances (e.g., neurotransmitters and hormones) is a recognised inhibitory mechanism. Thus, the identification of novel synthetic molecules that 'directly' open K+ channels has led to a new direction in the pharmacology of ion channels. The existence of many different subtypes of K+ channels has been an impetus in the search for new molecules demonstrating channel and, thus, tissue selectivity. This review focuses on the different classes of openers of K+ channels, the intracellular mechanisms involved in the execution of their effects, and potential therapeutic targets.

Differential vasorelaxant effects of levcromakalim and P1060 in the isolated KCl- and RbCl-precontracted human saphenous vein: possible involvement of intracellular Ca2+ stores

The influence of rubidium-substituted physiological salt solution (Rb-PSS) on the relaxant effects of K+ channel openers was investigated in the human saphenous vein. In tissues precontracted with 20 mM KCl (in K-PSS) levcromakalim and P1060 produced complete, sustained relaxations. However, in Rb-PSS (containing 20 mM RbCl) these effects were inhibited and, although complete relaxations still occurred, were transient. When caffeine was applied at the beginning of this fade of levcromakalim-induced relaxation in Rb-PSS its contractile effect was potentiated. Similarly, the contraction to noradrenaline was potentiated when applied at the beginning of this fade of levcromakalim-induced relaxation, whereas this response was attenuated in control tissues bathed in 20 mM KCl (in K-PSS). Our results show that the relaxant effects of K+ channel openers in human saphenous vein are inhibited in Rb-PSS, in agreement with previous studies in animal tissue, and suggest that an increased Ca2+ uptake into intracellular stores may be contributory to vasorelaxation.