Calcium preconditioning, but not ischemic preconditioning, bypasses the adenosine triphosphate-dependent potassium (KATP) channel.

Abstract Background. Recent evidence has implicated the K ATP channel as an important mediator of ischemic preconditioning (IPC). Indeed, patients taking oral sulfonylurea hypoglycemic agents (i.e., K ATP channel inhibitors) for treatment of diabetes mellitus are resistant to the otherwise profoundly protective effects of IPC. Unfortunately, many cardiopulmonary bypass patients, who may benefit from IPC, are chronically exposed to these agents. Calcium preconditioning (CPC) is a potent form of similar myocardial protection which may or may not utilize the K ATP channel in its mechanism of protection. The purpose of this study was to determine whether CPC may bypass the K ATP channel in its mechanism of action. If so, CPC may offer an alternative to IPC in patients chronically exposed to these agents. Methods. Isolated rat hearts ( n = 6–8/group) were perfused (Langendorff) and received K ATP channel inhibition (glibenclamide) or saline vehicle 10 min prior to either a CPC or IPC preconditioning stimulus or neither (ischemia and reperfusion, I/R). Hearts were subjected to global warm I/R (20 min/40 min). Postischemic myocardial functional recovery was determined by measuring developed pressure (DP), coronary flow (CF), and compliance (end diastolic pressure, EDP) with a MacLab pressure digitizer. Results. Both CPC and IPC stimuli protected myocardium against postischemic dysfunction ( P ATP channel inhibition abolished protection in hearts preconditioned with IPC ( P P > 0.05 vs CPC alone). Conclusions. (1) Both IPC and CPC provide similar myocardial protection; (2) IPC and CPC operate via different mechanisms; i.e., IPC utilizes the K ATP channel whereas CPC does not; and (3) CPC may offer a means of bypassing the deleterious effects of K ATP channel inhibition in diabetic patients chronically exposed to oral sulfonylurea hypoglycemic agents.