Differential participation of calcium-activated potassium channel in endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization-type relaxation in superior mesenteric arteries of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of K channels to endothelium-dependent hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF)-mediated relaxation induced by acetylcholine (ACh) in the superior mesenteric arteries of 7-month-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Upon inhibition of nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase, ACh-induced EDHF-mediated relaxation was found to be weaker in SHR than in age-matched Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). These relaxations in both group were attenuated by combined treatment with small-conductance and intermediate-conductance Ca-activated K channels (SK and IK) inhibitors, with the exception of relaxation resistant to inhibition of these channels in SHR (vs. WKY). Treatment with large-conductance Ca-activated K channels (BK) inhibitor specifically attenuated relaxation in SHR, but not in WKY. Protein expression of IK and SK in the arteries did not differ between the 2 groups, whereas ratio of sloβ1 subunit to α subunit of BK was increased in SHR (vs. WKY). These results suggest that EDHF-mediated relaxations in superior mesenteric arteries are impaired in SHR, and utilize components of BK in addition to SK/IK channel activities, that the increased participation of BK may be attributable to alterations in α and sloβ1 subunit ratio, and that components unrelated to K activity may also contribute to the difference between SHR and WKY arteries.