A. Piștea *, Smaranda Petrescu **
* Adrian Piștea – student Facultatea de Medicină U.M.F. “Carol Davila” București
** Dr. Smaranda Petrescu – preparator Catedra de Farmacologie U.M.F. “Carol Davila” București
Abstract
The potassium channels are widely spread throughout all the cells of the body. They set the resting potential, keep fast acting potentials short, terminate periods of intense activity, slow the rate of repetitive firing, and generally lower the excitability of the cell when they are open. The identification of the ATP-sensitive potassium channels (K(ATP)) showed a clear link between the metabolic and the electrical activity of the heart. The electrophysiology of the K(ATP) channels is described. The increase in knowledge about the K(ATP) channels allowed the pharmacologists to create and study some blocking and opening agents, for the development of second-generation compounds, with high tissue selectivity, capable of focused action on the myocardial cells, vascular system or pancreatic cells, knowing the particular distribution of the K(ATP) channels in these areas. New perspectives arouse for treatment of the ischaemic heart disease, arterial hypertension, and in the surgical field, preventing reperfusion injury in cardiac surgery.