Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), caused by dominant mutations in the NOTCH3 receptor in vascular smooth muscle, is a genetic paradigm of small vessel disease (SVD) of the brain. Recent studies using transgenic (Tg)Notch3 R169C mice, a genetic model of CADASIL, revealed functional defects in cerebral (pial) arteries on the surface of the brain at an early stage of disease progression. Here, using parenchymal arterioles (PAs) from within the brain, we determined the molecular mechanism underlying the early functional deficits associated with this Notch3 mutation. At physiological pressure (40 mmHg), smooth muscle membrane potential depolarization and constriction to pressure (myogenic tone) were blunted in PAs from TgNotch3 R169C mice. This effect was associated with an ∼60% increase in the number of voltage-gated potassium (K V ) channels, which oppose pressure-induced depolarization. Inhibition of K V 1 channels with 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) or treatment with the epidermal growth factor receptor agonist heparin-binding EGF (HB-EGF), which promotes K V 1 channel endocytosis, reduced K V current density and restored myogenic responses in PAs from TgNotch3 R169C mice, whereas pharmacological inhibition of other major vasodilatory influences had no effect. K V 1 currents and myogenic responses were similarly altered in pial arteries from TgNotch3 R169C mice, but not in mesenteric arteries. Interestingly, HB-EGF had no effect on mesenteric arteries, suggesting a possible mechanistic basis for the exclusive cerebrovascular manifestation of CADASIL. Collectively, our results indicate that increasing the number of K V 1 channels in cerebral smooth muscle produces a mutant vascular phenotype akin to a channelopathy in a genetic model of SVD.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSEHypoxia causes vasodilatation of coronary arteries, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We hypothesized that hypoxia reduces intracellular Ca 2+ concentration ([Ca 2+ ]i) by opening of K channels and release of H2S. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACHPorcine coronary arteries without endothelium were mounted for measurement of isometric tension and [Ca 2+ ]i, and the expression of voltage-gated K channels KV7 channels (encoded by KCNQ genes) and large-conductance calcium-activated K channels (KCa1.1) was examined. Voltage clamp assessed the role of KV7 channels in hypoxia. KEY RESULTSGradual reduction of oxygen concentration from 95 to 1% dilated the precontracted coronary arteries and this was associated with reduced [Ca 2+

This study was designed to investigate whether calcium-activated potassium channels of small (SK Ca or K Ca 2) and intermediate (IK Ca or K Ca 3.1) conductance activated by 6,7-dichloro-1H-indole-2,3-dione 3-oxime (NS309) are involved in both nitric oxide (NO) and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF)-type relaxation in large and small rat mesenteric arteries. Segments of rat superior and small mesenteric arteries were mounted in myographs for functional studies. NO was recorded using NO microsensors. SK Ca and IK Ca channel currents and mRNA expression were investigated in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and calcium concentrations were investigated in both HUVECs and mesenteric arterial endothelial cells. In both superior (ϳ1093 m) and small mesenteric (ϳ300 m) arteries, NS309 evoked endothelium-and concentration-dependent relaxations. In superior mesenteric arteries, NS309 relaxations and NO release were inhibited by both N G ,N G -asymmetric dimethyl-L-arginine (ADMA) (300 M), an inhibitor of NO synthase, and apamin (0.5 M) plus 1-[(2-chlorophenyl)diphenylmethyl]-1H-pyrazole (TRAM-34) (1 M), blockers of SK Ca and IK Ca channels, respectively. In small mesenteric arteries, NS309 relaxations were reduced slightly by ADMA, whereas apamin plus an IK Ca channel blocker almost abolished relaxation. Iberiotoxin did not change NS309 relaxation. HUVECs expressed mRNA for SK Ca and IK Ca channels, and NS309 induced increases in calcium, outward current, and NO release that were blocked by apamin and TRAM-34 or charybdotoxin. These findings suggest that opening of SK Ca and IK Ca channels leads to endothelium-dependent relaxation that is mediated mainly by NO in large mesenteric arteries and by EDHF-type relaxation in small mesenteric arteries. NS309-induced calcium influx appears to contribute to the formation of NO.

Background and purpose: Small (SKCa or KCa2) and intermediate (IKCa or KCa3.1) conductance calcium-activated potassium channels are involved in regulation of vascular tone and blood pressure. The present study investigated whether NS309 (6,7-dichloro-1H-indole-2,3-dione 3-oxime) and CyPPA (cyclohexyl-[2-(3,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-yl)-6-methyl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amine), which are selective openers of SKCa and IKCa channels and of SKCa2 and SKCa3 channels, respectively, enhance endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in porcine retinal arterioles. Experimental approach: In porcine retinal arterioles, SKCa3 and IKCa protein localization was examined by immunolabelling. Endothelial cell calcium was measured by fluorescence imaging. For functional studies, arterioles with internal diameters of 116 Ϯ 2 mm (n = 276) were mounted in microvascular myographs for isometric tension recordings. Key results: SKCa3 and IKCa protein was localized in the endothelium. Bradykinin, but not NS309 or CyPPA increased endothelial cell calcium. Pre-incubation with NS309 or CyPPA enhanced bradykinin relaxation without changing endothelial cell calcium. This enhanced relaxation was abolished by blocking SKCa channels with apamin. In the presence of NS309 or CyPPA, mainly inhibition of NO synthase with asymmetric dimethylarginine, but also inhibition of cyclooxygenase with indomethacin, reduced bradykinin relaxation. Bradykinin relaxation was completely abolished by NO synthase and cyclooxygenase inhibition together with a NO scavenger, oxyhaemoglobin. Conclusions and implications:In porcine retinal arterioles, bradykinin increases endothelial cell calcium leading to activation of SKCa and IKCa channels. Without altering endothelial cell calcium, NS309 and CyPPA open SKCa channels that enhance NO-mediated bradykinin relaxations. These results imply that opening SKCa channels improves endothelium-dependent relaxation and makes this channel a potential target for treatments aimed at restoring retinal blood flow.

In porcine retinal arterioles, NO and prostaglandins mediate endothelium-dependent relaxation to bradykinin and NS309. Moreover, these findings suggest that SK(Ca) channels contribute to NO-mediated relaxation induced by bradykinin and NS309 and, hence, may play an important role in retinal arterial endothelial function.