Acetylcholine leads to free radical production dependent on K(ATP) channels, G(i) proteins, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and tyrosine kinase.

Objective: Acetylcholine (ACh) mimics ischemic preconditioning (PC) and therefore protects the heart against lethal ischemia. Steps common to both ischemic and drug-induced PC are opening of mitochondrial K(ATP) channels (mito K(ATP)) and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The aim of this study was to test whether ACh-induced ROS production could be seen in a vascular smooth muscle cell line, and, if so, to investigate the underlying signaling pathway.