Expression of ATP-sensitive potassium channel and sulfonylurea receptor in neonate and adult rat tissues

ABSTRACT

The ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel is a member of inward rectifier potassium channel (Kir) that is inhibited by intracellular ATP and functions in close relation to sulfonylurea receptors (SUR). Although the molecular mechanism and physiological function of KATP channels are well understood, the expression pattern during development or treatment with the channel modulators such as glybenclamide is little known. In this work, we determined mRNA levels of a KATP channel (Kir6.2) and a sulfonylurea receptor (SUR2) in rat tissues by RNase protection assay. Levels of Kir6.2 and SUR2 mRNA in the rat brain and skeletal muscle were higher in adult (90-120 days) than in neonate (2-8 days), whereas those in the heart were not much different between neonate (2-8 days) and adult (90-120 days). In addition, none of KATP channel modulators (opener, pinacidil and nicorandil; blocker, glybenclamide) affected the Kir6.2 mRNA levels in the heart, brain and skeletal muscle. The results indicate that the expression of Kir and SUR genes can vary age-dependently, but the expression of Kir is not dependent on the long-term treatment of channel modulators. The effect of the channel modulators on mRNA level of SUR is remained to be studied further.