Inhibition by the putative potassium channel opener pinacidil of the electrically-evoked release of endogenous dopamine and noradrenaline in the rat vas deferens

Molecular analysis of ATP-sensitive K⁺ channel subunits expressed in mouse vas deferens myocytes

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

ATP-sensitive K(+)(K(ATP)) channels, which are composed of K(IR)6.x associated with sulphonylurea receptor (SUR) subunits, have been detected in native smooth muscle cells, but it is currently not known which of these is expressed in mouse vas deferens myocytes.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Pharmacological and electrophysiological properties of K(ATP) channels in mouse vas deferens myocytes were investigated using patch clamp techniques. Molecular biological analyses were performed to examine the properties of these K(ATP) channels.

KEY RESULTS

During conventional whole-cell recording, pinacidil elicited an inward current that was suppressed by glibenclamide, a sulfonylurea agent, and by U-37883A, a selective K(IR)6.1 blocker. When 0.3 mM ATP was added to the pipette solution, the peak amplitude of the pinacidil-induced current was much smaller than that recorded in its absence. When 3 mM UDP, GDP or ADP was included in the pipette solution, an inward current was elicited after establishment of the conventional whole-cell configuration, with potency order being UDP > GDP > ADP. These nucleoside diphosphate-induced inward currents were suppressed by glibenclamide. MCC-134, a SUR modulator, induced glibenclamide-sensitive K(ATP) currents that were similar to those induced by 100 μM pinacidil. In the cell-attached configuration, pinacidil activated channels with a conductance similar to that of K(IR)6.1. Reverse transcription PCR analysis revealed the expression of K(IR)6.1 and SUR2B transcripts and immunohistochemical studies indicated the presence of K(IR)6.1 and SUR2B proteins in the myocytes.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Our results indicate that native K(ATP) channels in mouse vas deferens myocytes are a heterocomplex of K(IR)6.1 channels and SUR2B subunits.

The effect of potassium channel opener pinacidil on the non-pregnant rat uterus

The effects of the K(+) channel opener, pinacidil on the spontaneous rhythmic contractions and contractions provoked by electrical field stimulation (50 Hz) or by oxytocin were investigated in the isolated uterus of the non-pregnant rat in oestrus. Pinacidil produced more potent inhibition of oxytocin-elicited contractions than of spontaneous rhythmic contractions or electrical field stimulation-induced contractions. Glibenclamide, a selective blocker of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive K(+) (K(ATP)) channels, antagonized the pinacidil-induced inhibition of contractions elicited by oxytocin in a competitive manner. However, the pinacidil-induced inhibition of electrical field stimulation-elicited contractions and spontaneous rhythmic contractions was antagonized non-competitively by glibenclamide. In the uterine strips pre-contracted with 80 mM K(+), the pinacidil-induced maximal relaxation was not affected. The present data show that pinacidil exhibits potent relaxant properties in the rat non-pregnant uterus in oestrus and therefore should be taken into account as a possible agent for treatment of dysmenorrhoea. Based on glibenclamide affinity, it appears that the inhibitory response to pinacidil involves K(ATP )channels. We need further investigations to explain why the interaction between glibenclamide and pinacidil in this experimental model depends on the nature of contractions. The ability of pinacidil to completely relax the rat non-pregnant uterus pre-contracted with K(+)-rich solution suggests that K(+) channel-independent mechanism(s) also play a part in its relaxant effect.

ATP-sensitive potassium channels mediate contraction-induced attenuation of sympathetic vasoconstriction in rat skeletal muscle

Sympathetic vasoconstriction is sensitive to inhibition by metabolic events in contracting rat and human skeletal muscle, but the underlying cellular mechanisms are unknown. In rats, this inhibition involves mainly alpha2-adrenergic vasoconstriction, which relies heavily on Ca2+ influx through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. We therefore hypothesized that contraction-induced inhibition of sympathetic vasoconstriction is mediated by ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels, a hyperpolarizing vasodilator mechanism that could be activated by some metabolic product(s) of skeletal muscle contraction. We tested this hypothesis in anesthetized rats by measuring femoral artery blood flow responses to lumbar sympathetic nerve stimulation or intraarterial hindlimb infusion of the specific alpha2-adrenergic agonist UK 14,304 during KATP channel activation with diazoxide in resting hindlimb and during KATP channel block with glibenclamide in contracting hindlimb. The major new findings are twofold. First, like muscle contraction, pharmacologic activation of KATP channels with diazoxide in resting hindlimb dose dependently attenuated the vasoconstrictor responses to either sympathetic nerve stimulation or intraarterial UK 14,304. Second, the large contraction-induced attenuation in sympathetic vasoconstriction elicited by nerve stimulation or UK 14,304 was partially reversed when the physiologic activation of KATP channels produced by muscle contraction was prevented with glibenclamide. We conclude that contraction-induced activation of KATP channels is a major mechanism underlying metabolic inhibition of sympathetic vasoconstriction in exercising skeletal muscle.

Comparative effects of K+ channel modulating agents on contractions of rat intestinal smooth muscle

The effects of six K+ channel openers were investigated on contractions of the rat ileum longitudinal muscle-myenteric plexus preparation elicited by electrical field stimulation and by K+. Levcromakalim, pinacidil, RP 49356 (N-methyl-2-(3 pyridyl)-tetrahydrothiopyran-2-carbothioamide-1-oxide) and SDZ PCO 400 ((3S,4R)-3, 4-dihydro-3-hydroxy-2, 2-dimethyl-4-[(3-oxo-1-cyclopenten-1-yl)oxy]-2H-1-benzopyran-6-car bonitrile) completely abolished contractions elicited by electrical stimulation and caused complete relaxation of contractions elicited by K+ with comparable IC50 values. Minoxidil sulphate was much less potent and diazoxide was without effect in either protocol. The relaxant effects of these agents were antagonized by glibenclamide, tetraethylammonium and yohimbine in a manner which was not surmountable. The present study indicates that the relaxant effect of these compounds in intestinal smooth muscle is mediated through glibenclamide-sensitive ATP-dependent K+ channels. These compounds did not preferentially inhibit either direct smooth muscle- or nerve-mediated responses. The present data may point to differences in the channels or their regulatory sites, in intestinal, compared with vascular, smooth muscle.

Effects of the potassium channel openers cromakalim and pinacidil on catecholamine secretion and calcium mobilization in cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

The effects of two K+ channel openers, cromakalim and pinacidil, on voltage-dependent and receptor-mediated catecholamine secretion and Ca2+ mobilization in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells were studied to determine the role of membrane K+ channels in the regulation of a Ca(2+)-dependent secretory process. Both cromakalim and pinacidil stimulated the efflux of 86Rb (used to monitor K+ permeability) from preloaded cells. Cromakalim and pinacidil did not affect the catecholamine secretion induced by excessive depolarization with 56 mM K+, but inhibited that induced by moderate depolarization with 31 mM K+ in a concentration-dependent manner (1 microM-100 microM). The 31 mM K(+)-induced 45Ca2+ influx and increase in intracellular free Ca2+ concentration [Ca2+]i were also inhibited by these agents at similar concentrations to those for inhibition of catecholamine secretion. Cromakalim and pinacidil inhibited catecholamine secretion, 45Ca2+ influx and increase in [Ca2+]i induced by stimulation of nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors with carbamylcholine. Furthermore, both cromakalim and pinacidil inhibited the increase in [Ca2+]i induced by carbamylcholine in the absence of extracellular Ca2+, which is thought to be mediated by muscarinic ACh receptors. On the other hand, they did not affect catecholamine secretion induced by Bay-K 8644, Ba2+, A23187, histamine or bradykinin. These results indicate that the K+ channel openers, cromakalim and pinacidil, selectively inhibit catecholamine secretion induced by moderate depolarization or by nicotinic ACh receptor stimulation by inhibiting Ca2+ influx and increase in [Ca2+]i. Furthermore, the results suggest that these K+ channel openers-sensitive membrane K+ channels are involved in the regulation of catecholamine secretion mainly indirectly through effects on the voltage-dependent membrane Ca2+ channels.