Premium
POTASSIUM CHANNELS AND THE CORONARY CIRCULATION
Author(s) -
Dellsperger Kevin C.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
clinical and experimental pharmacology and physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1440-1681
pISSN - 0305-1870
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1681.1996.tb01176.x
Subject(s) - circulation (fluid dynamics) , coronary circulation , cardiology , medicine , potassium , potassium channel , chemistry , mechanics , physics , blood flow , organic chemistry
SUMMARY 1. Mechanisms responsible for the regulation of coronary blood flow during physiologically important situations, such as reactive hyperamia, hypoxia, ischeaemia, coronary artery occlusion and increased metabolic demand, have eluded the scientific community. 2. As knowledge regarding potassium channel physiology and biophysics has expanded, the potential role of these channels in regulating coronary blood flow has been studied. 3. Recent data have demonstrated that ATP‐sensitive potassium channels (K + [ ATP ]) play an important role in maintaining basal coronary blood flow, contribute to the regulation of coronary blood flow during hypoxia, acidosis, ischaemia, reactive hyperaemia and ischaemic preconditioning. The role of potassium channels in the regulation of coronary blood flow during increases in metabolic stimulation is controversial. 4. Thus, potassium channels, particularly K + [ ATP ], appear to play an important role in regulating coronary blood flow during physiologically important stimuli.