Variety of ion channels is present in plasma membrane of endothelial cells. These include the potassium channels such as Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels, inwardly rectifying K(+) channels, voltage-dependent K(+) channels and also ATP-regulated K(+) channels. Due to an influence on the membrane potential they are important regulators of vascular tone by modulating endothelial calcium ions signali...

The experiments described below were designed to study the effects of changes in extracellular potassium concentration [K]o on the basal tone, the contractile response to Z-norepinephrjne and the tissue concentration of potassium [K] t of helical rabbit aorta strips. The results suggest that in this preparation when [K]o is increased, the change in resting length due to the potassium change is ...

Abstract The whole blood potassium concentration has shown the bimodal distribution in sheep, which has been classified into LK and HK types; HK allele is recessive to LK with a single gene inheritance. This polymorphism showed different behavior in different environment, which could be due to adaptation process. This research was conducted on the Zel and kermani breed research station, which...

BACKGROUND Although potassium channels are thought to be responsible for the initiation of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV), their role in the HPV-inhibitory effect of volatile anesthetics is unclear. The current study tested if the HPV-inhibitory effect of isoflurane and sevoflurane can be affected by changing the potassium-channel opening status with specific potassium-channel inhibit...

The transport properties of potassium (K) and sodium (Na) were studied in single distal tubules of Amphiuma using free-flow micropuncture techniques and stationary microperfusion methods. The transepithelial movement of labeled potassium was measured utilizing a three-compartment system in series in which the time course of tracer disappearance from the lumen was followed. Under control conditi...

PURPOSE In a previous study, an increase in Na,K-ATPase alpha 2 expression was detected in the epithelium of porcine lenses exposed to amphotericin B, an ionophore that also increases lens sodium and stimulates active sodium transport. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether an increase of Na,K-ATPase alpha 2 synthesis is a response to an episode of rapid Na-K transport or whe...