Abstract
1. In rat isolated thoracic aortic rings pre-contracted with noradrenaline (10(-6) M), cromakalim (3 x 10(-7)-3 x 10(-5) M) produced concentration-related relaxation. This effect was progressively inhibited by increasing concentrations of the anti-diabetic sulphonylurea drug, glibenclamide (10(-6)-10(-5) M). 2. In rat isolated portal veins, cromakalim (3 x 10(-8)-10(-6) M) produced concentration-related inhibition of the spontaneous contractive activity and glibenclamide (3 x 10(-7)-3 x 10(-6) M) prevented this inhibitory action in a concentration-dependent manner. 3. In both rat aortic rings and portal veins, cromakalim (10(-5) M) stimulated 86Rb efflux. Prior exposure to glibenclamide (10(-7)-10(-6) M) produced a concentration-related inhibition of this response. 4. In conscious rats, cromakalim, 0.075 mg kg-1 i.v., produced a rapid and sustained fall in arterial blood pressure which was not influenced by pretreatment (2 h) with a large oral dose of glibenclamide (100 mg kg-1). 5. In conscious rats, the hypotensive action of cromakalim, 0.075 mg kg-1 i.v., was abolished by pretreatment (30 min) with glibenclamide, 20 mg kg-1, given by the intravenous route. 6. The results suggest that the vasorelaxant and hypotensive actions of cromakalim involve a K+ channel which can be inhibited by glibenclamide, but which may be distinct from the ATP-sensitive K+ channel of the pancreatic beta-cell.