Differential regulation of diabetes-induced rat aorta ATP-sensitive potassium channels, Kir 6.1 and Kir 6.2, by pulsed magnetic field therapy

Purpose: Our goal is to determine the effects of pulsed field magnetic field treatment (PMF), which has been reported to lower blood cholesterol, glucose, triglyceride levels and recover vascular defects of diabetic rats, on ATP-sensitive potassium channel subunits, Kir 6.1 and Kir 6.2, of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat aorta. Methods: Diabetes was induced in rats by streptozotocin administration. Pulsed filed magnetic field treatment performed at 1,5 mT intensity on diabetic rats. Aortas were excised out and mRNAs were isolated and reverse transcribed into cDNAs. In order to evaluate mRNA expression levels, real time PCR was employed with primers specific for Kir 6.1 and Kir 6.2 mRNA. Results: In our studies, pulsed filed magnetic field treatment repressed Kir 6.1 but not Kir 6.2 mRNA expression in diabetic rats. Conclusion: In aorta diabetes-induced endothelial dysfunction leads to impairment in contraction-relaxation response and vascular tone, which could be recovered in part by PMF treatment. Our findings here may suggest that the positive therapeutic effect of PMF possibly act through the regulation of ATP-sensitive potassium channels, Kir 6.1 and Kir 6.2. [Cukurova Med J 2013; 38(1.000): 15-21]