Cerebrovascular smooth muscle potassium channels and cerebral vasospasm / 国际脑血管病杂志

ABSTRACT

There are a number of potassium channels on the cerebrovascular smooth muscle cell membrane, generally they are divided to 4 categories voltage-gated potassium channels, calcium-activated potassium channels, inward rectifier potassium channels and ATP sensitive potassium channels. They can modulate cerebrovascular tone, so as to impact on cerebral blood flow to adapt to different situations of physiological pathology. The structure and function of potassium channels change after subarachnoid hemorrhage, These changes may be associated with the occurrence and development of cerebral vasospasm. The application of potassium channel opener may relax cerebrovascular smooth muscle and attenuate cerebral vasospasm.