Role of calcium-activated potassium channels in the regulation of basal and agonist-elevated tones in isolated conduit arteries

Functional role of calcium-activated potassium (KCA) channels on the basal and agonist-elevated arterial tones was investigated in isolated rabbit aorta, porcine and canine coronary arteries as well as in human internal mammary artery. The vascular tones enhanced by contractile agents were increased further by preincubation of these conduit blood vessels with selective (charybdotoxin or iberiotoxin) or non-selective (tetraethylammonium) inhibitors of KCA channels. The basal tone (without an agonist) was increased only in the canine coronary artery. The results indicate a feed-back regulatory role of KCA channels counteracting the vasospasm of conduit arteries.