BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Kv7.4 and Kv7.5 channels are regulators of vascular tone. 4-Aminopyridine (4-AP) is considered a broad inhibitor of voltage-gated potassium (KV) channels, with little inhibitory effect on Kv7 family members at mmol concentrations. However, the effect of 4-AP on Kv7 channels has not been systematically studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacological activity of 4-AP on Kv7.4 and Kv7.5 channels and characterize the effect of 4-AP on rat resistance arteries.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Voltage clamp experiments were performed on Xenopus laevis oocytes injected with cRNA encoding KCNQ4 or KCNQ5, HEK cells expressing Kv7.4 channels and on rat, freshly isolated mesenteric artery smooth muscle cells. The effect of 4-AP on tension, membrane potential, intracellular calcium and pH was assessed in rat mesenteric artery segments.

KEY RESULTS: 4-AP increased the Kv7.4-mediated current in oocytes and HEK cells but did not affect Kv7.5 current. 4-AP also enhanced native mesenteric artery myocyte K+current at sub-mmol concentrations. When applied to NA-preconstricted mesenteric artery segments, 4-AP hyperpolarized the membrane, decreased [Ca2+]iand caused concentration-dependent relaxations that were independent of 4-AP-mediated changes in intracellular pH. Application of the Kv7 channel blocker XE991 and BKCachannel blocker iberiotoxin attenuated 4-AP-mediated relaxation. 4-AP also inhibited the NA-mediated signal transduction to elicit a relaxation.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These data show that 4-AP is able to relax NA-preconstricted rat mesenteric arteries by enhancing the activity of Kv7.4 and BKCachannels and attenuating NA-mediated signalling.