Role of Large-conductance Calcium-activated Potassium Channels of Coronary Arteries in Heart Preservation

In coronary circulation: (1) the BKCa current density and related vasorelaxation are reduced after ischemia; and (2) hyperkalemia induces dual effects; the depolarization obscures the compensatory increase of the BKCa activity. These findings imply that BKCa activators may be used in cardioplegia or heart preservation solutions to protect the function of this ion channel.