Small and Intermediate Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel Openers Improve Rat Endothelial and Erectile Function.

ABSTRACT: Modulation of endothelial calcium-activated potassium (K_Ca) channels has been proposed as an approach to restore endothelial function. The present study investigated whether novel openers of K_Ca channels with small (K_Ca2.x) and intermediate (K_Ca3.1) conductance, NS309 and NS4591, improve endothelium-dependent relaxation and erectile function. Rat corpus cavernosum (CC) strips were mounted for isometric tension recording and processed for immunoblotting. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), intracavernosal pressure (ICP), and electrocardiographic (ECG) measurements were conducted in anesthetized rats. Immunoblotting revealed the presence of K_Ca2.3 and large K_Ca conductance (K_Ca1.1) channels in the corpus caverno

SUBMITTER: Comerma-Steffensen SG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5619997 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature