Tetramethylpyrazine as potassium channel opener to lower calcium influx into cultured aortic smooth muscle cells

Chin Chuan Tsai, Tung-Iuan Lai, Wei Chan Huang, Tzyylin Yang, I. Min Liu, Kar Lok Wong, Paul Chan, Juei Tang Cheng

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In the present study, the effect of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on calcium (Ca2+) influx was investigated in cultured vascular smooth muscle (A7r5) cells using Fura-2 as an indicator. The increase of Ca2+ concentration in A7r5 cells produced by vasopressin or phenylephrine was attenuated by TMP from 0.01 μmol/L to 1 mmol/L. The decrease in the intracellular potassium concentration in A7r5 cells by TMP from 0.01 μmol/L to 10 μmol/L was characterized using PBFI/AM. Inhibitors specific to the small conductance calcium-activated potassium (SKCa) channel or the ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel abolished the actions of TMP. The obtained results indicate that the decrease of Ca2+ influx into A7r5 cells by TMP is mainly mediated by the opening of potassium channels.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)557-558
Number of pages2
JournalPlanta Medica
Volume69
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 1 2003

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmaceutical Science
  • Drug Discovery
  • Complementary and alternative medicine
  • Organic Chemistry

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