UC Davis

Endothelial KCa2.3 and KCa3.1 channels contribute to the regulation of myogenic tone in resistance arteries by Ca(2+)-mobilizing vasodilatory hormones. To define further the functional role of these channels in distinct vascular beds, we have examined the vasodilatory actions of the KCa channel activator SKA-31 in myogenically active rat cremaster and middle cerebral arteries. Vessels pressurized to 70 mm Hg constricted by 80-100 μm (ie, 25%-45% of maximal diameter). SKA-31 (10 μM) inhibited myogenic tone by 80% in cremaster and ∼65% in middle cerebral arteries, with IC50 values of ∼2 μM in both vessels. These vasodilatory effects were largely prevented by the KCa2.3 blocker UCL1684 and the KCa3.1 blocker TRAM-34 and abolished by endothelial denudation. Preincubation with N(G) nitro L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 0.1 mM) did not affect the inhibitory response to SKA-31, but attenuated the ACh-evoked dilation by ∼45%. Penitrem-A, a blocker of BK(Ca) channels, did not alter SKA-31 evoked vasodilation but did reduce the inhibition of myogenic tone by ACh, the BKCa channel activator NS1619, and sodium nitroprusside. Collectively, these data demonstrate that SKA-31 produces robust inhibition of myogenic tone in resistance arteries isolated from distinct vascular beds in an endothelium-dependent manner.