Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Isolation and Cannulation of Cerebral Parenchymal Arterioles
Published on: May 23, 2016
[Molecular of pulmonary arterioles relaxation through SUR2B/Kir6.1 channel opening]
Jun Chen1, Shang Wang1, Wen-Yu Cui2
1Cardiovascular Drug Research Center, Institute of Health and Environmental Medicine, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850.
Objective:
To study the dilatation characteristics of ATP-sensitive potassium channel (KATP) SUR2B/Kir6.1 subtype opener iptakalim (Ipt) in pulmonary arterioles, and to explore its possible mechanism.
Methods:
Vessels pressure-diameter monitoring perfusion technique was used to observe the dilatation effects of Ipt in rats fourth pulmonary arterioles (n=6~8). After the pulmonary arterioles were pre-treated with removing endothelium or pre-incubated with KATP channel blocker glibenclamide (Gli), cyclo-oxygenase (COX) inhibitor indomethacin (Indo) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor L-Nω-Nitro-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME), the dilatation effects of Ipt were observed.
Results:
Pulmonary arterioles could be relaxed by Ipt, the maximal relaxation rate was (60.53±2.08)%. Compaired with control group, the effects of Ipt in endothelium denuded arterioles were significantly decreased, the maximal relaxation rate was (9.47±1.56)% (P<0.01). The maximal relaxation rate were decreased to(17.49±1.47)%,(37.00±3.88)% and(24.91±2.30)% respectively after Gli,Indo,L-NAME were pre-incubated (P<0.01).
Conclusions:
Pulmonary arterioles can be relaxed by Ipt. The selective activation of KATP SUR2B/Kir6.1 subtype by Ipt was involved in its mechanisms. The endothelium-dependently dilatation of Ipt was related to nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin (PGI2) released by endothelial cells.
Related Concept Videos
Arteries and Arterioles
Relaxation of Skeletal Muscles
When an action potential reaches the axon terminal, it depolarizes the membrane and opens voltage-gated sodium channels. Sodium ions enter the cell, further depolarizing the presynaptic membrane. This depolarization causes voltage-gated calcium channels to open....
Ion Channels
Ion channels are specialized integral membrane proteins on the plasma membrane that allow...
Classification of Skeletal Muscle Relaxants
Peripherally acting skeletal muscle relaxants interfere with the neurotransmission at the neuromuscular end plate to induce paralysis during...
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers
TKIs, such as imatinib (Gleevec), are particularly effective in tackling the growth and mitogenic factors that become upregulated in PAH patients. These factors contribute to the...
Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Therapeutic Uses

