Abstract
Ca2+-activated K+ (KCa) channels are important for endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) signaling. Since treatment with angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) improves vasculopathies in type 2 diabetic patients, we asked whether the EDHF-type relaxation and its associated KCa channels [small (SKCa)–, intermediate (IKCa)–, and large (BKCa)–conductance channels] are abnormal in mesenteric arteries isolated from Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats at the chronic stage of type 2 diabetes (34 – 38 weeks) and whether an ARBs (losartan, 25 mg · kg−1 · day−1 for 2 weeks) might correct these abnormalities. Although the acetylcholine chloride–induced EDHF-type relaxation in mesenteric arteries from GK rats was reduced versus the Wistar controls, it was significantly restored by losartan treatment. The SKCa-blocker apamin or the IKCa-blocker 1-[(2-chlorophenyl)diphenylmethyl]-1H-pyrazole (TRAM-34) inhibited such relaxations in the losartan-treated or -untreated Wistar groups and in the losartan-treated GK group, but not in the losartan-untreated GK group. The BKCa-blocker iberiotoxin had a significant inhibitory effect in only one of these groups, the losartan-treated GK. The relaxations induced by the SKCa/IKCa activator NS309 and the BKCa activator NS1619, which were impaired in GK rats, were normalized by losartan treatment. We conclude that losartan improves EDHF-type relaxation in GK rats at least partly by normalizing SKCa/IKCa activities and increasing BKCa activity.
