Potassium channel activation: A potential therapeutic approach?

doi:10.1016/0163-7258(96)00003-4

Pharmacology & Therapeutics

Volume 70, Issue 1, 1996, Pages 39-63

https://doi.org/10.1016/0163-7258(96)00003-4 Get rights and content

Abstract

The physiological role of K⁺ channel opening by endogenous substances (e.g., neurotrans-mitters and hormones) is a recognised inhibitory mechanism. Thus, the identification of novel synthetic molecules that ‘directly’ open K⁺ channels has led to a new direction in the pharmacology of ion channels. The existence of many different subtypes of K⁺ channels has been an impetus in the search for new molecules demonstrating channel and, thus, tissue selectivity. This review focuses on the different classes of openers of K⁺ channels, the intracellular mechanisms involved in the execution of their effects, and potential therapeutic targets.

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Potassium channel activation: A potential therapeutic approach?

Abstract

Eur. J. Pharmacol.

Pulm. Pharmacol.

Biochem. Pharmacol.

Cell Signal.

Neuroscience

Pulm. Pharmacol.

Trends Neurosci.

Pulm. Pharmacol.

Trends Neurosci.

J. Urol.

Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol.

Biochem. Pharmacol.

Eur. J. Pharmacol.

Trends Pharmacol. Sci.

Eur. J. Pharmacol.

Eur. J. Pharmacol.

Biochem. Biophys. Acta

J. Urol.

Eur. J. Pharmacol.

Varying extracellular [K+]—a functional approach to separating EDHF-related and EDNO-related mechanisms in perfused rat mesenteric arterial bed

J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol.

Oesophageal smooth muscle relaxation by dimethylphenylpiperazinium (DMPP): relationship to muscarinic cholinoceptor antagonism and K+ channel activation

Pharmacol. Commun.

Pinacidil: history, basic pharmacology and therapeutic implications

J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol.

Electrical and mechanical effects of BRL 34915 in guinea-pig isolated trachealis

Br. J. Pharmacol.

Mechanisms of neurotensin-induced inhibition in rat ileal smooth muscle

Am. J. Physiol.

Actions of BRL 34915 (cromakalim) upon convulsive discharges in guinea-pig hippocampal slices

Naunyn Schmeidebergs Arch. Pharmacol.

Plants that heal

World Health

Effects of pinacidil on bladder muscle

Drugs

Enhancement of muscle blood cell flux and pO2 by cromakalim (BRL 34915) and other compounds enhancing membrane K+ conductance, but not by Ca2+ antagonists or hydralazine, in an animal model of occlusive arterial disease

Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch. Pharmacol.

Role of K channel activators in cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias

Circulation

Calcium-activated K channels as modulators of human myometrial contractile activity

Am. J. Physiol.

Potassium channel activators and the treatment of asthma

Some quantitative uses of drug antagonists

Br. J. Pharmacol. Chemother.

Modulation of potassium channels by organic molecules

Med. Res. Rev.

Pharmacology and structure-activity relationships for KATP modulators-tissue-selective KATP-openers

J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol.

Pharmacological evidence for a role of ATP-dependent potassium channels in myocardial stunning

Circulation

Neuropeptides in the respiratory tract

Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.

K channel activation by nucleotide diphosphates and its inhibiton by glibenclamide in vascular smooth muscle

Br. J. Pharmacol.

Single channel and whole cell K currents evoked by lemakalim in smooth muscle cells from the rabbit portal vein

Br. J. Pharmacol.

Galanin and glibenclamide modulate the anoxic release of glutamate in rat CA3 hippocampal neurons

Eur. J. Neurosci.

Patch-clamp studies of slow potential-sensitive potassium channels in longitudinal smooth-muscle cells of rabbit jejunum

J. Physiol. (Lond.)

Noradrenergic neural vasodilator mechanisms

Circ. Res.

Protective effect of morphine on ethanol-induced gastric lesions in rats: are ATP-dependent potassium channels involved?

Arch. Int. Pharmacodyn.

Glyburide actions on the dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channel in rat vascular muscle

J. Vasc. Res.

The action of a potassium channel activator, BRL 38227 (Lemakalim), on human airway smooth muscle

Am. Rev. Resp. Dis.

Potassium channel openers are likely to be proarrhythmic in the diseased human heart

Cardiovasc. Res.

Pharmacological approaches to appetite suppression

Trends Pharmacol. Sci.

Potassium channels and endothelial prostacyclin production

Nitric oxide directly activates calcium-dependent potassium channels in vascular smooth muscle

Nature

Comparison of the airways relaxant and hypo-tensive potencies of the potassium channel activators BRL 55834 and levrocromakalim (BRL 38227) in vivo in guinea-pigs and rats

Br. J. Pharmacol.

Evidence that the mechanism of the inhibitory action of pinacidil in rat and guineapig smooth muscle differs from that of glyceryl trinitrate

Varying extracellular [K⁺]—a functional approach to separating EDHF-related and EDNO-related mechanisms in perfused rat mesenteric arterial bed

Oesophageal smooth muscle relaxation by dimethylphenylpiperazinium (DMPP): relationship to muscarinic cholinoceptor antagonism and K⁺ channel activation

Enhancement of muscle blood cell flux and pO2 by cromakalim (BRL 34915) and other compounds enhancing membrane K⁺ conductance, but not by Ca²⁺ antagonists or hydralazine, in an animal model of occlusive arterial disease

Pharmacology and structure-activity relationships for K_ATP modulators-tissue-selective K_ATP-openers

Glyburide actions on the dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca²⁺ channel in rat vascular muscle