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The Journal of General Physiology logoLink to The Journal of General Physiology
. 1996 Oct 1;108(4):315–323. doi: 10.1085/jgp.108.4.315

Vasoconstrictors inhibit ATP-sensitive K+ channels in arterial smooth muscle through protein kinase C

PMCID: PMC2229325  PMID: 8894979

Abstract

The effects of vasoconstrictor-receptor (neuropeptide Y, alpha- adrenergic, serotonergic, histaminergic) stimulation on currents through ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels in arterial smooth muscle cells were examined. Whole-cell KATP currents, activated by the synthetic KATP channel opener pinacidil or by the endogenous vasodilator, calcitonin gene-related peptide, which acts through protein kinase A, were measured in smooth muscle cells isolated from mesenteric arteries of rabbit. Stimulation of NPY-, alpha 1-, serotonin (5-HT2)-, and histamine (H1)-receptors inhibited KATP currents by 40- 56%. The signal transduction pathway that links these receptors to KATP channels was investigated. An inhibitor of phospholipase C (D609) and of protein kinase C (GF 109203X) reduced the inhibitory effect of these vasoconstrictors on KATP currents from 40-56% to 11-23%. Activators of protein kinase C, a diacylglycerol analogue and phorbol 12-myristate 13- acetate (PMA), inhibited KATP currents by 87.3 and 84.2%, respectively. KATP currents, activated by calcitonin gene-related peptide, were also inhibited (47-87%) by serotonin, phenylephrine, and PMA. We propose that KATP channels in these arterial myocytes are subject to dual modulation by protein kinase C (inhibition) and protein kinase A (activation).

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