Impact of Ca2+-Sensitive Potassium Channels in Levosimendan-Induced Postconditioning

Purpose Small and big conductance Ca2+-sensitive potassium (KCa) channels are involved in cardioprotective measures aiming at reducing myocardial reperfusion injury. For levosimendan, infarct size–reducing effects were shown. Whether activation of these channels is involved in levosimendan-induced postconditioning is unknown. We hypothesized that levosimendan exerts a concentration-dependent cardioprotective effect and that both types of Ca2+-sensitive potassium channels are involved.