Bupivacaine inhibits large conductance, voltage- and Ca2+- activated K+ channels in human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells.

ABSTRACT: Bupivacaine is a local anesthetic compound belonging to the amino amide group. Its anesthetic effect is commonly related to its inhibitory effect on voltage-gated sodium channels. However, several studies have shown that this drug can also inhibit voltage-operated K(+) channels by a different blocking mechanism. This could explain the observed contractile effects of bupivacaine on blood vessels. Up to now, there were no previous reports in the literature about bupivacaine effects on large conductance voltage- and Ca(2+) -activated K(+) channels (BK(Ca)). Using the patch-clamp technique, it is shown that bupivacaine inhibits single-channel and whole-cell K(+) currents carried by BK(Ca) channels in smooth muscle cells isolated from human umbilical artery (HUA). At the single-channel level bu

SUBMITTER: Martin P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3431591 | biostudies-literature | 2012 May-Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature