Siegel G, Mironneau J, Schnalke F, Schröder G, Schulz B G, Grote J
Institute of Physiology, Free University of Berlin, Germany.
Prog Clin Biol Res. 1990;327:299-306.
In arterial smooth muscle with normal tone or predepolarized and precontracted by noradrenaline, iloprost effects a dose-dependent hyperpolarization and relaxation. The hyperpolarization is due to K+ channel opening. In hypoxic vasodilatation, which is likewise induced by membrane hyperpolarization, a share of 20-30% falls to prostacyclin and 70-80% to an endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor.
