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  • Title: Bethanidine increases one type of potassium current and relaxes aortic muscle.
    Author: Bkaily G, Caillé JP, Payet MD, Peyrow M, Sauvé R, Renaud JF, Sperelakis N.
    Journal: Can J Physiol Pharmacol; 1988 Jun; 66(6):731-6. PubMed ID: 3167688.
    Abstract:
    Using a whole-cell voltage-clamp technique, we identified two time- and voltage-dependent K+ currents: an early outward rectifier and a delayed outward rectifier in single vascular smooth muscle cells of rabbit aorta in culture. About 90% of the single cells tested showed a predominant delayed outward K+ current type. Both K+ currents were decreased by tetraethylammonium. In contrast, bethanidine sulphate (10(-4)M), a pharmacological analog of the cardiac antifibrillatory drug, bretylium tosylate, decreased the early outward K+ current, increased the delayed rectifier K+ current type, and hyperpolarized the resting membrane potential. Bethanidine was found to relax vascular smooth muscle. The vasodilatory effect of bethanidine is associated with the activation of a K+ current that is probably involved in keeping the membrane potential at the resting state, thereby depressing the excitability of the aortic vascular smooth muscle.
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