Role of potassium and calcium channels in sevoflurane-mediated vasodilation in the foeto-placental circulation.

Background: Sevoflurane has been demonstrated to vasodilate the foeto-placental vasculature. We aimed to determine the contribution of modulation of potassium and calcium channel function to the vasodilatory effect of sevoflurane in isolated human chorionic plate arterial rings.

Methods: Quadruplicate ex vivo human chorionic plate arterial rings were used in all studies.