N -Acetylcysteine-induced vasodilatation is modulated by K ATP channels, Na /K -ATPase activity and intracellular calcium concentration: An in vitro study

Çömelekoğlu, Ülkü | Sucu, Nehir | Yalın, Ali Erdinç | Yılmaz, Şakir Necat | Yalın, Serap | Söğüt, Fatma | Kibar, Kezban | Akkapulu, Merih

Background In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel, Na+/K+-ATPase activity, and intracellular calcium levels on the vasodilatory effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in thoracic aorta by using electrophysiological and molecular techniques. Methods Rat thoracic aorta ring preparations and cultured thoracic aorta cells were divided into four groups as control, 2 mM NAC, 5 mM NAC, and 10 mM NAC. Thoracic aorta rings were isolated from rats for measurements of relaxation responses and Na+/K+-ATPase activity. In the cultured thoracic aorta cells, we measured the currents of KATP channel, the concentration of intracellular calcium and mRNA expression level of KATP channel subunits (KCNJ8, KCNJ11, ABCC8 and ABCC9). Results The relaxation rate sig...