Abstract
The effects of cromakalim, verapamil and salbutamol have been examined in guinea pig trachealis smooth muscle in both Krebs physiological salt solution and Krebs solution where K + has been replaced by Rb +. Cromakalim-induced relaxation in the presence of Rb + was reduced in extent and became transient, whilst the relaxation response to verapamil was enhanced and that to salbutamol unaffected. The transient relaxation occurring in Rb + was blocked by quinidine and glibenclamide. The presence of extracellular Rb + also prevented cromakalim-stimulated efflux of both 86Rb + and 42 43 K + . There was, however, no effect on cromakalim-stimulated 86Rb + uptake. It is proposed that cromakalim is opening two populations of potassium channel in guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle, one of which is susceptible to blockade by Rb + and one of which is not. The latter channel appears to play the dominant role in cromakalim-stimulated uptake, and is responsible for the transient relaxation response in the presence of rubidium, whilst the former is responsible for the maintained relaxation.
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