Preliminary Studies of Acute Cadmium Administration Effects on the Calcium-Activated Potassium (SKCa and BKCa) Channels and Na/K-ATPase Activity in Isolated Aortic Rings of Rats.

Cadmium is an environmental pollutant closely linked with cardiovascular diseases that seems to involve endothelium dysfunction and reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Knowing that NO causes dilatation through the activation of potassium channels and Na/K-ATPase, we aimed to determine whether acute cadmium administration (10 μM) alters the participation of K channels, voltage-activated calcium channel, and Na/K-ATPase activity in vascular function of isolated aortic rings of rats. Cadmium did not modify the acetylcholine-induced relaxation.