Flow-Induced Dilation of Human Coronary Arterioles Important Role of Ca-Activated K Channels

Background—Flow-induced vasodilation (FID) is a physiological mechanism for regulating coronary flow and is mediated largely by nitric oxide (NO) in animals. Because hyperpolarizing mechanisms may play a greater role than NO in the microcirculation, we hypothesized that hyperpolarization contributes importantly to FID of human coronary arterioles. Methods and Results—Arterioles from atria or ventricles were cannulated for videomicroscopy. Membrane potential of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) was measured simultaneously. After constriction with endothelin-1, increases in flow induced an endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Nv-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester 10 mol/L modestly impaired FID of arterioles from patients without coronary artery disease (CAD), whereas no inhibition was seen in arterioles from patients with CAD. Indomethacin 10 mol/L was without effect, but 40 mmol/L KCl attenuated maximal FID. Tetraethylammonium 10 mol/L but not glibenclamide 10 mol/L reduced FID. Charybdotoxin 10 mol/L impaired both FID (1563% versus 75612%, P,0.05) and hyperpolarization (23262 mV [from 22862 mV after endothelin-1] versus 24262 mV [22762 mV], P,0.05). Miconazole 10 mol/L or 17-octadecynoic acid 10 mol/L reduced FID. By multivariate analysis, age was an independent predictor for the reduced FID. Conclusions—We conclude that shear stress induces endothelium-dependent vasodilation, hyperpolarizing VSMCs through opening Ca-activated K channels in human coronary arterioles. In subjects without CAD, NO contributes to FID. NO and prostaglandins play no role in patients with CAD; rather, cytochrome P450 metabolites are involved. This is consistent with a role for endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor in FID of the human coronary microcirculation. (Circulation. 2001;103:1992-1998.)