Experimental Research Article Copyright ⓒ the Korean Society of Anesthesiologists, 2012 www.ekja.org

Background: Ketamine is a non-barbiturate anesthetic agent which has various effects on the cardiovascular system. Among them, ketamine is known for its hypotensive properties. The hypotension is thought to be mediated by a direct effect on vascular smooth muscles. This study is designed to examine the effects of ketamine on KCl- and histamine-induced contraction in isolated rabbit renal arteries. Methods: Endothelium-intact or-denuded smooth muscle rings were prepared and mounted in myographs for isometric tension measurements. The inhibitory effect of ketamine were investigated in smooth muscle rings precontracted with either 50 mM KCl- or 10 μM histamine. Results: Ketamine (0.1-100 μg/ml) produced similar concentration-dependent inhibition of contractile responses induced by either 50 mM KCl or 10 μM histamine. The respective IC50 values measured for ketamine following precontractions by 50 mM KCl and 10 μM histamine were 28.9 μg/ml (105.5 μM) and 26.7 μg/ml (97.5 μM). The inhibitory effect of 30 μg/ml ketamine were similarly observed after removal of endothelium or pretreatment with NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester (0.1 mM). The inhibitory effect of 30 μg/ml ketamine on histamine-evoked contraction was reduced by either tetraethylammonium (10 mM) or iberiotoxin, a large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel blocker. However, depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores by ryanodine (10 μM) or thapsigargin (10 μM) showed no significant effect on 30 μg/ml ketamine-induced relaxation. Pre-incubation with 30 μg/ml ketamine significantly inhibited CaCl2-induced contraction at almost all ranges of concentration. Conclusions: Ketamine-induced relaxation of rabbit renal arteries is mediated by both the activation of large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel and the inhibition of Ca2+ influx. (Korean J Anesthesiol 2012; 63: 533-539