Background
The sarcolemmal adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channel (sKATP), composed primarily of Kir6.2 and SUR2A subunits, has been implicated in cardiac myocyte volume regulation during stress; however, it is not involved in cardioprotection by the KATP channel opener diazoxide. Paradoxically, the sKATP channel subunit Kir6.2 is necessary for detrimental myocyte swelling secondary to stress. The Kir6.1 subunit may also contribute to KATP channels in the heart, and we hypothesized that this subunit may play a role in myocyte volume regulation in response to stress.
Study Design
Isolated cardiac myocytes from either wild type mice (WT) or mice lacking the Kir6.1 subunit (Kir6.1(−/−)) were exposed to control Tyrode’s solution (TYR) for 20 min, test solution (TYR, hypothermic hyperkalemic cardioplegia (CPG), or CPG + KATP channel opener diazoxide (CPG + DZX)) for 20 min, followed by TYR for 20 min. Myocyte volume and contractility were measured and analyzed.
Results
Both WT and Kir6.1(−/−) myocytes demonstrated significant swelling during exposure to stress (CPG) that was prevented by DZX. WT myocytes also demonstrated reduced contractility during stress of cardioplegia that was prevented by DZX. However, Kir6.1(−/−) myocytes did not show reduced contractility during stress.
Conclusions
These data indicate that KATP channel subunit Kir6.1 is not necessary for diazoxide’s maintenance of cell volume during the stress of cardioplegia. The absence of Kir6.1 does not affect the contractile properties of myocytes during stress suggesting the absence of Kir6.1 improves myocyte tolerance to stress via an unknown mechanism.