• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.303-311
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• 2000

Purpose: Thallium behaves similarly to potassium in vivo. Potassium channel opener (K-opener) opens ATP-sensitive $K^+$-channel located at cell membrane, resulting in potassium efflux from cytosol. We have previously reported that K-opener can alter biokinetics of Tl-201 in cultured cells and in vivo. Malignant tumor cells have high Na-K ATPase activity due to increased metabolic activities and dedifferentiation, and differential delineation of malignant tumor can be possible with Tl-201 imaging. K-opener may affect tumoral uptake of Tl-201 in vivo. To investigate the effects of pinacidil (one of the potent K-openers) on the localization of the tumor with Tl-201 chloride, we evaluated the changes in biodistribution of Tl-201 with pinacidil treatment in tumor-bearing mice. Materials and Methods: Baltic mice received subcutaneous implantation of murine breast cancer cells in the thigh and were used for biodistribution study 3 weeks later. $100{\mu}g$ of pinacidil dissolved in $200{\mu}l$ DMSO/PBS solution was injected intravenously via tail vein at 10 min after 185 KBq ($5{\mu}Ci$) Tl-201 injection. Percentage organ uptake and whole body retention ratio of Tl-201 were measured at various periods after injection, and values were compared between control and pinacidil-treated mice. Results: Pinacidil treatment resulted in mild decrease in blood levels of Tl-201, but renal uptakes were markedly decreased at 30-min, 1- and 2-hour, compared to control group. Hepatic, intestinal and muscular uptake were not different. Absolute percentage uptake and tumor to blood ratios of Tl-201 were lower in pinacidil treated mice than in the control group at all time points measured. Whole body retention ratio of Tl-201 was lower in pinacidil treated mice ($58{\pm}4%$ ), than in the control group ($67{\pm}3%$) at 24 hours after with injection of $100{\mu}g$ pinacidil. Conclusion: K-opener did not enhance, but rather decreased absolute tumoral uptake and tumor-to-blood ratios of Tl-201. Decreased whole body retention ratio and renal uptake were observed with pinacidil treatment in tumor-bearing mice.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.205-212
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• 2000

The effect of BRL 34915, a $K^{+}$ channe$Na^{+}$l opener, on renal function was investigated in anesthetized dog. BRL 34915, when given into the vein, elicited the decrease of urine volume accompanied with the reduction of renal plasma flow (RPF), osmolar clearance ($C_{osm}$) and amounts of sodium excreted into urine ($E_{na}$), whereas reabsorption rate of sodium in renal tubules ($R_{na}$), ratio of $K^{+}$ against $Na^{+}$ in urine ($K^{+}$ /$Na^{+}$) were elevated significantly with a partial fall of mean arterial pressure (MAP). BRL 34915 injected into a renal artery produced the diuretic action along with the increase in RPF $C_{osm}$, $E_{na}$ and amounts of potassium excreted in urine ($E_{k}$), and the decrease in $R_{na}$, reabsorption rate of potassium in renal tubules ($R_{k}$), free water clearance ($C_{H20}$) and $K^{+}/Na^{+}$ ratio in only ipsilateral kidney, however changes of the renal function were not observed in control kidney. BRL 34915 given into carotid artery exhibited the same aspect as changes of renal function induced by intravenous BRL 34915. These results suggest that BRL 34915 has dual effects, renally acting diuretic and centrally acting antidiuretic action.n.

• 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.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.305-313
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• 2004

The effect of diazoxide, a $K^{+}$channel opener, on apoptotic cell death was investigated in HepG2 human hepatoblastoma cells. Diazoxide induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner and this was evaluated by flow cytometric assays of annexin-V binding and hypodiploid nuclei stained with propidium iodide. Diazoxide did not alter intracellular $K^{+}$concentration, and various inhibitors of $K^{+}$channels had no influence on the diazoxide-induced apoptosis; this implies that $K^{+}$channels activated by diazoxide may be absent in the HepG2 cells. However, diazoxide induced a rapid and sustained increase in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration, and this was completely inhibited by the extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelation with EGTA, but not by blockers of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release (dantrolene and TMB-8). This result indicated that the diazoxide-induced increase of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ might be due to the activation of a Ca2+ influx pathway. Diazoxide-induced $Ca^{2+}$ influx was not significantly inhibited by either voltage-operative $Ca^{2+}$ channel blockers (nifedipinen or verapamil), or by inhibitors of $Na^{+}$, $Ca^{2+}$-exchanger (bepridil and benzamil), but it was inhibited by flufenamic acid (FA), a $Ca^{2+}$-permeable nonselective cation channel blocker. A quantitative analysis of apoptosis by flow cytometry revealed that a treatment with either FA or BAPTA, an intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator, significantly inhibited the diazoxide-induced apoptosis. Taken together, these results suggest that the observed diazoxide-induced apoptosis in the HepG2 cells may result from a $Ca^{2+}$ influx through the activation of $Ca^{2+}$-permeable non-selective cation channels. These results are very significant, and they lead us to further suggest that diazoxide may be valuable for the therapeutic intervention of human hepatomas.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.362-370
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• 2000

In anesthetized dogs, antidiuretic action of intravenously administered BRL 34915 (10.0~30.0 $\mu$/kg) was blocked by renal denervation, whereas it was not affected by glibenclamide, a selective $K_{ATP}$ blocker, given into renal artery. Diuretic action in ipsilateral kidney produced by intrarenal administration of BRL 34915 was not influenced by renal denervation, but blocked completely by glibenclamide given into the vein. Above results suggest that the antidiuretic action of BRL 34915 is mediated by renal sympathetic nerves and the diuretic action is caused by opening of $K^+$ channel within kidney.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.507-515
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• 1996

Background : Potassium channel opener (K-opener) opens ATP-sensitive K'-channel located at cell membrane and induces potassium efflux from cytosol, resulting in intracellular hyperpolarization. Newly synthesized K-opener is currently examined for pharmacologic potency by means of rubidium release test from smooth muscle strip pre-incubated with Rb-86. Since in-vivo behavior of thallium is similar to that of rubidium, we hypothesized that K-opener can alter T1-201 kinetics in vivo. Purpose : This study was prepared to investigate the effects of pinacidil (one of potent K-openers) on the T1-201 uptake and clearance in cultured myocyte, and in-vivo biodistribution in mice. Methods : Spontaneous contracting myocytes were prepared to imitate in-vivo condition from 20 hearts of 3-5 days old Sprague-Dawley rat and cultured for 3-5 days before use ($5{\times}10^5$ cells/ml). Pinacidil was dissolved in 10% DMSO solution at a final concentration of 100nM or l0uM and was co-incubated with T1-201 in HBSS buffer for 20-min to evaluate its effect on cellular T1-uptake, or challenged to cell preparation pre-incubated with T1-201 for washout study. Two, 40 or $100{\mu}g$ of pinacidil was injected intravenously into ICR mice at 10 min after $5{\mu}Ci$ T1-201 injection, and organ uptake and whole body retention rate were measured at different time points. Results : Co-incubation of pinacidil with T1-201 resulted in a decrease in T1-201 uptake into cultured myocyte by 1.6 to 2.5 times, depending on pinacidil concentration and activity of T1-201 used. Pinacidil enhanced T1-201 washout by 1.6-3.1 times from myocyte preparations pre-incubated with T1-201. Pinacidil treatment appears to be resulted in mild decreases in blood and liver activity in normal mice, in contrast, renal and cardiac uptake were mildly decreased in a dose dependent manner. Whole body retention ratios of T1-201 were lower at 24 hour after injection with $100{\mu}g$ of pinacidil than control. Conclusion : These results suggest that treatment with K-opener may affect the interpretation of T1-201 myocardial images, due to decreasing thallium accumulation and enhancing washout from myocardium.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1992.05a
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• pp.37-37
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• 1992

세포의 흥분성과 막전위의 조절에 있어서 $K^{+}$ channel의 역할이 크다는 사실이 인정 됨으로서 (Rudy, 1988) $K^{+}$ channel 개방 약물의 약리학적 연구와 임상적 응용에 대한 관심은 높아졌다. Cromakalim, nicorandil 및 pinacidil등이 혈관 평활근을 특히 예민하게 이완시킨다. 작용기전으로서는 세포의 원형질 막을 통한 $K^{+}$ 전도의 항진과 $K^{+}$ outward current의 증가가 막 과분극을 일으킨다. 이러한 결과는 막흥분에 의한 voltage-dependent $Ca^{++}$ channel을 닫게하고 세포내 free $Ca^{++}$의 농도를 감소시켜 혈관의 흥분성과 수축력의 감소를 야기하여 근이완을 야기한다. 한편, 평활근 세포막의 $Na^{+}$-$K^{+}$ ATPase도 활성화하면 electrogenic pump를 가동하여 막 과분극을 일으키고 막 흥분성을 저하시킨다. $Na^{+}$-$K^{+}$ pump는 세포 바깥의 $K^{+}$과 세포안의 $Na^{+}$농도에 의하여 활성화한다.

• 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.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.133.3-134
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• 2001

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.216-221
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• 1991

The inhibitory effects of glipizide on cromakalim-induced relaxation of aortae and hypotension in the anesthetized rats was examined. In rat thoracic aortic rings pre-contracted with norepinephrine, cromakalim produced a relaxation sustainedly. This relaxation was completely inhibited by pre- or post-treatment of glipizide. In the anesthetized rat, cromakalim produced a rapid and sustained fall in the arterial blood pressure. This hypotensive action of cromakalim was abolished by pre- or post-treatment of glipizide. It is suggested that glipizide is the potent inhibitor of cromakalim, $K^{+}$ channel opener, in the rats.