Prostacyclin, endothelium-derived relaxing factor and vasodilatation.

In arterial smooth muscle with normal tone or predepolarized and precontracted by noradrenaline, prostacyclin (10(-9) to 10(-6) M) 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% falls to prostacyclin and 80% to an endothelium derived hyperpolarizing factor.