Regulation of intracerebral arteriolar tone by K(v) channels: effects of glucose and PKC.

ABSTRACT: Voltage-gated potassium (K(v)) channels in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) are critical regulators of membrane potential and vascular tone. These channels exert a hyperpolarizing influence to counteract the depolarizing effects of intraluminal pressure and vasoconstrictors. However, the contribution of K(v) channel activity to the functional regulation of cerebral (parenchymal) arterioles within the brain is not known. Thus K(v) channel properties in parenchymal arteriolar SMCs were characterized. Isolated, pressurized parenchymal arterioles and arterioles in cortical brain slices exhibited robust constriction in the presence of the K(v) channel inhibitor 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). 4-AP also decreased the amplitude of K(v) currents recorded from SMCs. The steady-state activation and inact

SUBMITTER: Straub SV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2740388 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature