PMID: 7517343Dec 1, 1993Paper

Membrane ion channels and cardiovascular ATP-sensitive K+ channels

Cardiologia : bollettino della Società italiana di cardiologia
I Cavero, J M Guillon

Abstract

Ion channels are the primary target for a variety of clinically important drugs including local anesthetic, antihypertensive, antianginal, antiarrhythmic, antidiabetic, anticonvulsant hypnotic and anxiolytic agents. Ion channels are specialized proteins inserted in the ion-impermeable cellular membrane, which have a water-filled pore permitting the selective passage of a few biologically important ions (Na+, K+, Ca++ and Cl-) across the membrane. Multiple channels for a given ion can co-exist on the same cell where they have specific functions. The flow of ions through channels produces electrical currents which often act as biological messengers to change and modulate the functional state of the cell. Thus, the influx of Na+ and Ca++ are activating signals whereas the exit of K+ drives the activated cell to a resting state or strengthen the resting state. Interestingly, K+ channels are the most diverse group of ion channels. At least 9 families of K+ channels co-exist in cardiac myocytes where they regulate the heart repolarization and excitability processes under physiological and pathological conditions. ATP-sensitive K+ channels of cardiac myocytes are of particular interest since they have a very high membrane density and ...Continue Reading

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