Protective Effects of Anesthetics on Vascular Function Related to K⁺ Channels

Title:Protective Effects of Anesthetics on Vascular Function Related to K⁺ Channels

Volume: 20 Issue: 36

Author(s): Shinji Kawahito, Katsutoshi Nakahata, Toshiharu Azma, Yasuhiro Kuroda, David J. Cook and Hiroyuki Kinoshita

Affiliation:

Keywords: ATP-sensitive K⁺ channels, oxidative stress, vascular smooth muscle cell, endothelium, vascular function, cerebral vasculature, anesthetics.

Abstract: K⁺ channels play an essential role in the membrane potential of arterial smooth muscle, and also in regulating contractile tone. Especially, in vascular smooth muscle, the opening of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive K⁺ (K_ATP) channels leads to membrane hyperpolarization, resulting in muscle relaxation and vasodilation. This activation also plays a role in tissues during pathophysiologic events such as ischemia, hypoxia, and vasodilatory shock. In this review, we will describe the physiological and pathophysiological roles of vascular smooth muscle K_ATP channels in relation to the effects of anesthetics. Although accumulated evidence suggests that many anesthetics modify the above function of K⁺ channels as a metabolic sensor, further studies are certainly needed to resolve certain issues, especially in clinical settings of anesthesia use.

Cite this article as:

Kawahito Shinji, Nakahata Katsutoshi, Azma Toshiharu, Kuroda Yasuhiro, Cook J. David and Kinoshita Hiroyuki, Protective Effects of Anesthetics on Vascular Function Related to K⁺ Channels, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2014; 20 (36) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612820666140204115647