Hyperpolarization of isolated capillaries from guinea‐pig heart induced by K+ channel openers and glucose deprivation

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Abstract
1 The present study was designed to test if microvascular coronary endothelial cells express ATP–sensitive K+ channels (KATP channels). We performed microfluorometric measurements of the membrane potential of freshly isolated guinea‐pig coronary capillaries equilibrated with the voltage–sensitive dye bis‐oxonol (bis‐[1,3–dibutylbarbituric acid] trimethineoxonol, [DiBAC4(3)]). 2 The resting membrane potential of capillaries in physiological salt solution was −46±4.2 mV (n= 8) at room temperature (22 °C) as determined after calibration of the fluorescence using the Na+–K+ ionophore gramicidin in the presence of different K+ concentrations. Spontaneous membrane potential fluctuations of 10–20 mV amplitude were often observed. 3 A reversible, sustained hyperpolarization to a new membrane potential close to the K+ equilibrium potential (EK) could be induced by application of the K+ channel openers HOE 234 (100 nm to 1 μM), diazoxide (10 pm to 100 nM) or pinacidil (100 nM). Subsequent addition of glibenclamide (200 nm to 2 μM) reversed this hyperpolarization. 4 A glibenclamide–sensitive hyperpolarization of coronary capillaries to values near EK was also observed upon omission of D‐glucose (10 mM) from the superfusing solution or by substituting L‐glucose for D‐glucose. Maximum hyperpolarization was reached in less than 10 min. 5 Our results suggest that microvascular coronary endothelial cells express KATP channels which may be activated during hypoglycaemia.