Adenosine signaling activates ATP-sensitive K⁺ channels in endothelial cells and pericytes in CNS capillaries.

ABSTRACT: The dense network of capillaries composed of capillary endothelial cells (cECs) and pericytes lies in close proximity to all neurons, ideally positioning it to sense neuron- and glial-derived compounds that enhance regional and global cerebral perfusion. The membrane potential (V_M) of vascular cells serves as the physiological bridge that translates brain activity into vascular function. In other beds, the ATP-sensitive K⁺ (K_ATP) channel regulates V_M in vascular smooth muscle, which is absent in the capillary network. Here, with transgenic mice that expressed a dominant-negative mutant of the pore-forming Kir6.1 subunit specifically in brain cECs or pericytes, we demonstrated that K_ATP channels were present in both cell t

SUBMITTER: Sancho M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9623876 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature