Abstract
Diabetes in rat pregnancy is associated with impaired vasodilation of the maternal uteroplacental vasculature. In the present study, we explored the role of endothelial cell (EC) Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels of small conductance (SKCa channels) and intermediate conductance (IKCa channels) in diabetes-induced uterine vascular dysfunction. Diabetes was induced by injection of streptozotocin to second-day pregnant rats and confirmed by the development of maternal hyperglycemia. Control rats were injected with citrate buffer. Changes in smooth muscle cell intracellular Ca(2+) concentration, membrane potential, and vasodilation induced by SKCa/IKCa channel activators were studied in uteroplacental arteries of control and diabetic rats. The impact of diabetes on SKCa- and IKCa-mediated currents was explored in freshly dissociated ECs. NS309 evoked a potent vasodilation that was effectively inhibited by TRAM-34 but not by apamin. NS309-induced smooth muscle cell intracellular Ca(2+) concentration, membrane potential, and dilator responses were significantly diminished by diabetes; N-cyclohexyl-N-2-(3,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-yl)-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinamine (CyPPA)-evoked responses were not affected. Ca(2+)-activated ion currents in ECs were insensitive to paxilline, markedly inhibited by charybdotoxin (ChTX), and diminished by apamin. NS309-induced EC currents were generated mostly due to activation of ChTX-sensitive channels. Maternal diabetes resulted in a significant reduction in ChTX-sensitive currents with no effect on apamin-sensitive or CyPPA-induced currents. We concluded that IKCa channels play a prevalent role over SKCa channels in the generation of endothelial K(+) currents and vasodilation of uteroplacental arteries. Impaired function of IKCa channels importantly contributes to diabetes-induced uterine endothelial dysfunction. Therapeutic restoration of IKCa channel function may be a novel strategy for improvement of maternal uteroplacental blood flow in pregnancies complicated by diabetes.