Bay K 8644 induce enhancement of K+ current in both single heart cell and smooth muscle cell

The effects of the Ca2+ agonist Bay K 8644 on outward potassium currents have been studied in single ventricular cells of chick embryo and aortic single cells of rabbit using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. Bay K 8644 was found to increase 1K in both heart and aortic single cells. This effect of Bay K 8644 on both muscle was reversed by Mn2+ and blocked by 20 mM TEA. The Bay K 8644 potassium I/V curve of single heart cell had a N shape, which is Ca2+ dependent. These data strongly suggest that Bay K 8644 increases a gK(Ca) in both aortic and heart muscle.