Effects of K+ Channel Opener WAY120491 on Renal Function in Rabbits

Son, Soo Chang; Wen, Jin Fu; Li, Dan; Kim, Suhn Hee; Cho, Kyung Woo

Abstract

BACKGROUND
K+ channel opener has been considered as a vasorelaxing agent working through hyperpolarization of vascular smooth muscle cells. Renal tubules-proximal, thick ascending limb of Henle and cortical collecting duct-are the site of the diversity of the K+ channel. ATP-sensitive K+ channel has been observed in the apical membranes of the thick ascending limb of Henle and collecting duct, and basolateral membrane of the proximal tubule. It was also shown that K+ channel opener increased renal hemodynamics and elicited diuretic and natriuretic effects. METHODS: To clarify the renal effects of WAY120491, a K+ channel opener, experiments were performed in unanesthetized normotensive and renal hypertensive rabbits allowing unilateral renal arterial infusion of agent. RESULTS: Intrarenal arterial infusion (0.13, 0.32 and 0.64 microgram/kg/min) of WAY120491 increaased CPAH, CCr, urine volume, UNaV, UKV and CH2O. Renal hemodynamic effects and increments of urine volume and free water clearance were completely blocked by glibenclamide (8.2 g/kg/min), while increments of UNaV and FENa were not significantly affected. Renal hemodynamic and tubular effects of WAY120491 were not significantly different in two-kidney one clip Goldblatt hypertensive rabbits from sham-operated rabbits. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that WAY120491 elicits renal effects through ATP-sensitive K+ channel in the renal vasculatures and renal tubules and the renal effects of WAT120491 may not be altered in the hypertension.