TY - JOUR
T1 - Voltage-gated K+ channels in rat small cerebral arteries
T2 - Molecular identity of the functional channels
AU - Albarwani, Sulayma
AU - Nemetz, Leah T.
AU - Madden, Jane A.
AU - Tobin, Ann A.
AU - England, Sarah K.
AU - Pratt, Phillip F.
AU - Rusch, Nancy J.
PY - 2003/9/15
Y1 - 2003/9/15
N2 - Voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels represent an important dilator influence in the cerebral circulation, but the composition of these tetrameric ion channels remains unclear. The goals of the present study were to evaluate the contribution of Kv1 family channels to the resting membrane potential and diameter of small rat cerebral arteries, and to identify the α-subunit composition of these channels using patch-clamp, molecular and immunological techniques. Initial studies indicated that 1 μmol l-1 correolide (COR), a specific antagonist of Kv1 channels, depolarized vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in pressurized (60 mmHg cerebral arteries from -55 ± 1 mV to -34 ± 1 mV, and reduced the resting diameter from 152 ± 15 μm to 103 ± 20 μm. In patch clamped VSMCs from these arteries, COR-sensitive Kv1 current accounted for 65% of total outward Kv current and was observed at physiological membrane potentials. RT-PCR identified mRNA encoding each of the six classical Kv1 α-subunits, Kv1.1-1.6, in rat cerebral arteries. However, only the Kv1.2 and 1.5 proteins were detected by Western blot. The expression of these proteins in VSMCs was confirmed by immunocytochemistry and co-immunoprecipitation of Kv1.2 and 1.5 from VSMC membranes suggested Kv1.2/1.5 channel assembly. Subsequently, the pharmacological and voltage-sensitive properties of Kv1 current in VSMCs were found to be consistent with a predominant expression of Kv1.2/1.5 heterotetrameric channels. The findings of this study suggest that Kv1.2/1.5 heterotetramers are preferentially expressed in rat cerebral VSMCs, and that these channels contribute to the resting membrane potential and diameter of rat small cerebral arteries.
AB - Voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels represent an important dilator influence in the cerebral circulation, but the composition of these tetrameric ion channels remains unclear. The goals of the present study were to evaluate the contribution of Kv1 family channels to the resting membrane potential and diameter of small rat cerebral arteries, and to identify the α-subunit composition of these channels using patch-clamp, molecular and immunological techniques. Initial studies indicated that 1 μmol l-1 correolide (COR), a specific antagonist of Kv1 channels, depolarized vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in pressurized (60 mmHg cerebral arteries from -55 ± 1 mV to -34 ± 1 mV, and reduced the resting diameter from 152 ± 15 μm to 103 ± 20 μm. In patch clamped VSMCs from these arteries, COR-sensitive Kv1 current accounted for 65% of total outward Kv current and was observed at physiological membrane potentials. RT-PCR identified mRNA encoding each of the six classical Kv1 α-subunits, Kv1.1-1.6, in rat cerebral arteries. However, only the Kv1.2 and 1.5 proteins were detected by Western blot. The expression of these proteins in VSMCs was confirmed by immunocytochemistry and co-immunoprecipitation of Kv1.2 and 1.5 from VSMC membranes suggested Kv1.2/1.5 channel assembly. Subsequently, the pharmacological and voltage-sensitive properties of Kv1 current in VSMCs were found to be consistent with a predominant expression of Kv1.2/1.5 heterotetrameric channels. The findings of this study suggest that Kv1.2/1.5 heterotetramers are preferentially expressed in rat cerebral VSMCs, and that these channels contribute to the resting membrane potential and diameter of rat small cerebral arteries.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0141646632&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1113/jphysiol.2003.040014
DO - 10.1113/jphysiol.2003.040014
M3 - Article
C2 - 12815189
AN - SCOPUS:0141646632
SN - 0022-3751
VL - 551
SP - 751
EP - 763
JO - Journal of Physiology
JF - Journal of Physiology
IS - 3
ER -