• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.463-475
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• 1993

Pharmacological effects of lemakalim on cardiovascular system were investigated using isolated rat hearts and conscious SHRs subjected to hyperkalemic and hypokalemic condition. In the isolated hearts perfused with normal physiological salt solution(4.7 mM KCI), lemakalim increased cardiac function and coronary flow, and these effects were significantly potentiated under hypokalemic(1.2, 2.5 mM KCI), but attenuated under hyperkalemic(IO mM KCI) condition. In conscious SHRS, lemakalim(0.1, 0.2, 0.3mg/kg, p.o.) produced a dose-related decrease in systolic blood pressure, the maximal hypotensive effect being reached around 0.5 hr after dosing. The intensity and the duration of hypotensive effect of lemakalim were significantly increased when administered in combination with dihydrochlorothiazide (2 mg/kg, p.o.), but decreased with triamterene(32 mg/kg, p.o.). It appears that the differential effects of two types of diuretics on the hypotensive action of lemakalim are due to their hypokalemic and hyperkalemic action, respectively. It is conclued that the concomitant use of $K^{+}$ channel openers and hypokalemic diuretics may be an appropriate model of combination therapy in the treatment of hypertension.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.241-246
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• 1997

The effect of potassium channel openers, SKP-450, SKP-818 and lemakalim have been compared in rat heart and aorta. In rat isolated heart, SKP-450 had a greater negative inotrop ic effect than lemakalim and KR-30818 against left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and double product of heart rate and LVDP (DP). In addition, SKP-450 had a greater effect than lemakalim and KR-30818 in increasing coronary flow, indicating a more potent vasodilating effect in coronary artery. Negative inotropic effect and coronary vasodilating effect of SKP-450 and SEP-818 were significantly reduced by 10 min-perfusion with $10^{-6}M$ glyburide, a selective blocker of ATP-sensitive potassium channel. In rat aorta, SKP-30450 and SKP-30818 as well as lemakalim induced powerful concentration-dependent relaxations against norepinephrinc-induced tone ($EC_{50},\;{\mu}M$ : SKP-30450, $0.107{\pm}0.009$; SKP-30818, $0.476{\pm}0.022$ ; lemakalim, $0.565{\pm}0.039$ ). These relaxant effects were significantly reduced by pretreatment with glyburide. In sununary, SKP-30450 and SKP-30818 showed greater negative inotropic and vasorelaxant effect than lemakalim in rat aorta with order of potency of SKP-30450 > SKP-30818 > lemakalim. These actions are suggested to be mediated at least in part by a mechanism which involves the opening of ATP-sensitive potassium channel.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.373-377
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• 1996

The effect of potassium channel openers, KR-30450, KR-30818 and lemakalim have been compared against several spasmogens in guinea pig bronchi. In guinea pig bronchi, KR-30450 had a greater relaxant effect than lemakalim and KR-30818 against tone induced by histamine $10^{-5}M$ ($EC_{50}$ $\mu$M: KR-30450, 0.108$\pm$0.077; KR-30818, 0.403$\pm$0.023; lemakalim, 0.968$\pm$0.036) and prostaglandin $F_{2\alpha} 3\times10^{-6} M$ ($EC_{50}$ $\mu$M: KR-30450, 0.018$\pm$0.001; KR-30818, 0.028$\pm$0.003; lemakalim, 0.138$\pm$0.019). Relaxant effect of KR-30450 and KR-30818 were significantly reduced by 20 min pretreatment of tissues with $10^[-6}$ M glibenclamide, a selective blocker of ATP-sensitive potassium channel. Against acetylcholine-induced tone in guinea pig bronchi, however, these compounds had little effect. In summary, KR-30450 and KR-30818 showed greater relaxant effect than lemakalim in guinea pig bronchi (KR-30450>KR-30818>lemakalim). These relaxant actions are suggested to be mediated at least in part by a mechanism which involves the opening of ATP-sensitive potassium channel.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.85-93
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• 1998

ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channels ($K_{ATP}$) were not identified in gastric smooth muscle cells. However, in tension recording of intact gastric circular muscle, lemakalim of $K_{ATP}$ channels opener in other tissues suppressed mechanical contractions and this effect was blocked by glibenclamide, a specific inhibitor of $K_{ATP}$ channels. The aims of this study were to investigate whether $K_{ATP}$ channels exist in gastric smooth muscle of guinea-pig and to know its physiological role. Whole cell $K^+$ currents activated by lemakalim were recorded from freshly isolated cells with a 0.1 mM ATP, 140 mM KCl pipette solutions. Lemakalim (10 ${\mu}M$) increased inward currents of $-224{\pm}34$ pA (n=13) at -80 mV of holding potential in bath solution contained 90 mM $K^+$. Bath-applied glibenclamide (10 ${\mu}M$) inhibited the lemakalim-activated inward currents by $91{\pm}6%$ (n=5). These lemakalim-activated inward currents were reduced by increased intracellular ATP from 0.1 to 3 mM ($-41{\pm}12$ pA) (n=5). The reversal potential of the glibenclamide- sensitive inward currents was $-5.2{\pm}2.4$ mV (n=3) in external 90 mM $K^+$ and shifted to $-14.8{\pm}3.6$ mV (n=3) in external 60 mM $K^+$, which close to equilibrium potential of $K^+$ ($E_K$). External barium and cesium inhibited the lemakalim-activated inward currents dose-dependently. The half-inhibitory dose ($IC_{50}$) of barium and cesium were 2.3 ${\mu}M$ (n=5) and 0.38 mM (n=4), respectively. 10 mM tetraethylammonium (TEA) also inhibited the lemakalim-activated inward currents by $66{\pm}15%$ (n=5). Both substance P (SP) (5 ${\mu}M$) and acetylcholine (ACh) (5 ${\mu}M$) inhibited lemakalim-activated inward currents. These results suggest that $K_{ATP}$ channels exist in the gastric smooth muscle and its modulation by neurotransmitters may play an important role in regulating gastric motility.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.37-50
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• 1994

Synthetic potassium channel openers (KCOs) are agents capable of opening K-channels in excitable cells. These agents are known to have their maximal potency in the smooth muscle tissue, especially in the vascular smooth muscle. Much attention has been focused on the type of K-channel that is responsible for mediating the effects of KCOs. As the KCO-induced changes are antagonized by glibenclamide, an $K_{ATP}$ (ATP-sensitive K-channel) blocker in the pancreatic ${\beta}-cell,\;K_{ATP}$ was suggested to be the channel responsible. However, there also are many results in favor of other types of K-channel $$(maxi-K,\;small\;conductance\;K_{Ca,}\; SK_{ATP}) mediating the effects of KCOs. Effects of lemakalim, (-)enantiomer of cromakalim (BRL 34915), on the spontaneous contractions and slow waves, were investigated in the antral circular muscle of the guinea-pig stomach. Membrane currents and the effects on membrane currents and single channel activities were also measured in single smooth muscle cells and excised membrane patches by using the patch clamp method. Lemakalim induced hyperpolarization and inhibited spontaneous contractions in a dose-dependent manner. These effects were blocked by glibenclamide and low concentrations of tetraethyl ammonium (< mM). Glibenclamide blocked the effect of lemakalim on the membrane potential and slow waves. The mechanoinhibitory effect of lemakalim was blocked by pretreatment with glibenclamide. In a whole ceIl patch clamp condition, lemakalim largely increased outward K currents. These outward K currents were blocked by TEA, glibenclamide and a high concentration of intracelIular EGTA (10 mM). Volatage-gated Ca currents were not affected by lemakalim. In inside-out patch clamp experiments, lemakalim increased the opening frequency of the large conductance $Ca^{2+}-activated$ K channels $(BK_{Ca},\;Maxi-K).$ From these results, it is suggested that lemakalim induces hyperpolarization by opening K-channels which are sensitive to internal Ca and such a hyperpolarization leads to the inhibition of the spontaneous contraction.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.32-40
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• 1996

The electrophysiological effects of benzopyran potassium channel openers (PCOs: lemakalim, KR-30450 and KR-30818) on the ischemia/reperfusion-induced arrythmias were investigated. In anesthetized rats, subjected to 45 min occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) followed by 90 min reperfusion, ventricular arrythmias were identified according to the Lambeth Conventions by lead II ECG. Rats were intravenously given vehicle ($1\%$ DMSO), lemakalim, KR-30450, and KR-30818 alone or in combination with a selective $K_{ATP}$ blocker glibenclamide, 30 min prior to coronary occlusion. Compared to vehicle, lemakalim ($30{\mu}g/kg$ i.v.), the active enantiomer of cromakalim, had a tendancy to increase the duration of ventricular tachycardia (Vl) and ventricular fibrillation (VF), the number of premature ventricular complexes (PVC) and the incidence of VF, especially in the early post-occlusion peroid ($0\~15$ min), while increasing ST-segment elevation. Both KR-30450 ($30{\mu}g/kg$, i.v.) and KR-30818 (30, $100{\mu}g/kg$, i.v.) showed similar proarrhythmic effects to lemakalim (PVC, duration of VT, and incidence of VF) with a tendancy to decrease the duration of VF and ST-segment elevation. Unlike other PCOs, however, glibenclamide (0.3, 1.0 mg/kg) had opposite effects on the induction of arrhythmias (PVC, the duration of VF); it had a tendancy to increase the duration of VT with a slight elevation of ST-segment. It seems likely that glibenclamide (0.3 mg/kg, i.v.), reduced the effects of lemakalim or KR-30450 ($30{\mu}g/kg$, i.v.) on arrhythmias (PVC, VT, VF and ST-segment). These results indicate that, in the coronary occluded rat model of ischemia, lemikuiln and KR-30450 exert a proarrhythmic activity, the effect being considered related to the opening of KATP channel.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.117-125
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• 1997

The pharmacological effects of benzopyran potassium channel openers (lemakalim, KR-30450 and KR-30818) on the occlusion/reperfusion-induced myocardial infarction were investigat ed. In anesthetized rats, subjected to 45-min occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) followed by 90-min reperfusion, the infarct size was measured by calculating the ratio of infarct zone to area at risk (IZ/AAR) with the Evans blue/TTC technique. Rats were intravenously given vehicle (1% DMSO), lemakalim, KR-30450, and KR-30818 alone or in combination with a selective K$_{ATP}$ blacker glibenclamide, 30 min prior to coronary occlusion. Compared to vehicle, lemakalim (30 ${\mu}$g/kg i.v.), the active enantiomer of cromakalim, had a tendancy to decrease infarct size. KR-30450(30 ${\mu}$g/kg, i.v.). the newly synthetized potassium channel openers (PCOs), caused a reduction of infarct size (from 70${\pm}$4%to 57${\pm}$5%). but KR-30818 (30 ${\mu}$g/kg, i.v.), a metabolite of KR-30450. did not modify infarct size. It seem ed likely that glibenclamide (0.3mg/kg, i.v.), given in combination, reduced the effects of these PCOs, especially KR-30450 (30 ${\mu}$g/kg, i.v.) on the infarct size. These results indicate that. in the coronary occluded rat model of ischemia, lemakalim and KR-30450 may exert cardioprotective activity through a reduction of infarct size, the effect being considered related to the opening of K$_{ATP}$ channel.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2005

We evaluated the antiplatelet effects of two classes of ATP-sensitive potassium channel openers $(K_{ATP}\;openers)$ on washed human platelets, and the study's emphasis was on the role of mitochondrial $K_{ATP}$ in platelet aggregation. Collagen-induced platelet aggregation was inhibited in a dose dependent manner by lemakalim and SKP-450, which are potent cardio-nonselective $K_{ATP}$ openers, and also by cardioselective BMS-180448 and BMS-191095 $(IC_{50}\;:\;1,130,\;>\;1,500,\;305.3\;and\;63.9\;{\mu}M,\;respectively)$, but a significantly greater potency was noted for the cardioselective $K_{ATP}$ openers. The latter two $K_{ATP}$ openers also inhibited platelet aggregation induced by thrombin, another important blood-borne platelet activator, with similar rank order of potency $(IC_{50}\;:\;498.0\;and\;104.8{\mu}M\; for\;BMS-180448\;and\;BMS-191095,\;respectively)$. The inhibitory effects of BMS-191095 on collagen-induced platelet aggregation were significantly blocked by a 30-min pretreatment of platelets with glyburide $(1{\mu}M)$ or sodium 5-hydroxyde­canoate$(5-HD,\;100{\mu}M)$, a nonselective and selective mitochondrial $K_{ATP}$ antagonist, respectively, at similar magnitudes; this indicates the role of mitochondrial $K_{ATP}$ in the antiplatelet activity of BMS-191095. However, glyburide and 5-HD had no effect when they were added to the platelet cuvette immediately prior to the addition of BMS-191095. These findings indicate that cardioselective mitochondrial $K_{ATP}$ openers like BMS-191095 are able to exert cardioprotective effects in cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury via dual mechanisms directed at the inhibition of platelet aggregation and the protection of cardiomyocytes, and both these mechanisms are mediated by mitochondrial$K_{ATP}$.