ABSTRACT
AIM: To investigate the effects of iptakalim hydrohloride on K_(ATP) mRNA expression in renal tissues of spontaneously hypertensive rats. METHODS: SHRs at the age of 12-week-old were treated with Ipt 1, 3, and 9 (mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1)), benazepril 3 (mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1)) once a day for 12 weeks, respectively. The same aged WKY rats were used as normal control. The effects of Ipt on BP and renal K_(ATP) mRNA expression were detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS: mRNA expression level of SUR2?Kir6.1 and Kir1.1 increased in SHR. After administration of 1, 3, and 9 (mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1)) Ipt,the levels of BP were decreased,and the mRNA expression of Kir6.1 and Kir1.1 were decreased. But there was no change in mRNA expression of SUR2. In addition, there was no significantly difference of mRNA expression of Kir6.2 among the SHR groups and the WKY group. CONCLUSION: The renal protective effects of Ipt may be related to regulation of genes expression of Kir6.1 and Kir1.1.