Contribution of calcium-sensitive potassium channels to NS1619-induced relaxation in human pregnant myometrium

R N Khan, S K Smith, M L Ashford

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    37 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Large-conductance, calcium-sensitive potassium channels (BK(Ca)) are found at high density in the pregnant human myometrium. We have investigated, using isolated myometrial strips and freshly dispersed human myometrial cells, the action of a novel drug (NS1619) which has potassium channel opening activity. Isometric tension experiments demonstrated that NS1619 has a potent, relaxant effect on the pregnant human myometrium. Using both the inside-out and outside-out configurations of the patch-clamp technique, NS1619 appears to act directly on myometrial BK(Ca) channels to stimulate channel activity by increasing the time spent in the open state by this group of potassium channels. Consequently, the myometrial BK(Ca) channel may be a novel target site for drug intervention in clinical conditions, e.g. failure to labour, preterm labour or dysmenorrhoea, which may require either the augmentation or inhibition of uterine K+ channel activity.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)208-213
    Number of pages6
    JournalHuman Reproduction
    Volume13
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1998

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Contribution of calcium-sensitive potassium channels to NS1619-induced relaxation in human pregnant myometrium'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this