Obesity Up-Regulates Intermediate Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels and Myoendothelial Gap Junctions to Maintain Endothelial Vasodilator Function

The mechanisms involved in altered endothelial function in obesity-related cardiovascular disease are poorly understood. This study investigates the effect of chronic obesity on endothelium-dependent vasodilation and the relative contribution of nitric oxide (NO), calcium-activated potassium channels (K Ca ), and myoendothelial gap junctions (MEGJs) in the rat saphenous artery. Obesity was induced by feeding rats a cafeteria-style diet (∼30 kJ as fat) for 16 to 20 weeks, with this model reflecting human dietary obesity etiology. Age- and sex-matched controls received standard chow (∼12 kJ as fat). Endothelium-dependent vasodilation was characterized in saphenous arteries by using pressure myography with pharmacological intervention, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and ultrastructural techniques. In saphenous artery from control, acetylcholine (ACh)-mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilation was blocked by NO synthase and soluble guanylate cyclase inhibition, whereas in obese rats, the ACh response was less sensitive to such inhibition. Conversely, the intermediate conductance K Ca (IK Ca ) blocker 1-[(2-chlorophenyl)diphenyl-methyl]-1 H pyrazole attenuates ACh-mediated dilation in obese, but not control, vessels. In a similar manner, putative gap junction block with carbenoxolone increased the pEC 50 for ACh in arteries from obese, but not control, rats. IK1 protein and MEGJ expression was up-regulated in the arteries of obese rats, an observation absent in control. Addition of the small conductance K Ca blocker apamin had no effect on ACh-mediated dilation in either control or obese rat vessels, consistent with unaltered SK3 expression. Up-regulation of distinct IK Ca - and gap junction-mediated pathways at myoendothelial microdomain sites, key mechanisms for endothelial-derived hyperpolarization-type activity, maintains endothelium-dependent vasodilation in diet-induced obese rat saphenous artery. Plasticity of myoendothelial coupling mechanisms represents a significant potential target for therapeutic intervention.