Abstract

K⁺ channels play an essential role in the membrane potential of arterial smooth muscle, and also in regulating contractile tone. Especially, in vascular smooth muscle, the opening of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive K⁺ (K_ATP) channels leads to membrane hyperpolarization, resulting in muscle relaxation and vasodilation. This activation also plays a role in tissues during pathophysiologic events such as ischemia, hypoxia, and vasodilatory shock. In this review, we will describe the physiological and pathophysiological roles of vascular smooth muscle K_ATP channels in relation to the effects of anesthetics. Although accumulated evidence suggests that many anesthetics modify the above function of K⁺ channels as a metabolic sensor, further studies are certainly needed to resolve certain issues, especially in clinical settings of anesthesia use.

Keywords: ATP-sensitive K⁺ channels, oxidative stress, vascular smooth muscle cell, endothelium, vascular function, cerebral vasculature, anesthetics.