Volatile anesthetics and K+ channel openers inhibit spontaneous contractions in myometrial smooth muscle. Volatile anesthetics modulate K+ channel activity We investigated the role of two K+ channel blockers on the effect of sevoflurane in pregnant rat myometrium. Term pregnant rat uteri were excised, and cross-sectional myometrial strips were mounted for isometric force recording. Sevoflurane inhibited the amplitude and frequency of spontaneous myometrial contractions in a concentration-dependent manner. The maximal inhibition measured in amplitude and frequency of spontaneous myometrial contractions with sevoflurane (at 3 minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration) was 44.32% and 33.32% of control contractions, respectively. Tetraethylammonium (TEA) and glibenclamide, K+ channel blockers, increased spontaneous myometrial contractions in a concentration-dependent manner. Sevoflurane responses were repeated at concentrations with no effect on spontaneous contractility of TEA, a Ca2+-activated K+ channel blocker, and glibenclamide, an adenosine triphosphate-sensitive K+ channel blocker, in myometrial strips. TEA (3.10(-4) M) caused a significant reduction in sevoflurane-induced inhibitor responses, but glibenclamide (10(-6) M) did not. Sevoflurane-induced maximal inhibition (at 3 minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration) on amplitude and frequency of spontaneous myometrial contractions in the presence of TEA (3.10(-4) M) was 31.85% and 22.33% of control contractions, respectively (P < 0,05). These results suggest that the in vitro application of sevoflurane inhibited the amplitude and frequency of spontaneous myometrial contractions in pregnant rats in a concentration-dependent manner. Such inhibition was reduced by TEA. The inhibition of myometrial smooth muscle induced by sevoflurane seems to be mediated, at least in part, via activation of Ca2+-activated K+ channels, because inhibition was reduced by TEA.
