Contribution of both the sarcolemmal KATP and mitochondrial KATP channels to infarct size limitation by KATP channel openers: differences from preconditioning in the role of sarcolemmal KATP channels

The roles of sarcolemmal ATP-sensitive K+ (sarcKATP) and mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K+ (mitoKATP) channels in the cardioprotection induced by KATP channel openers remain unclear, though the mitoKATP channel has been proposed to be involved as a subcellular mediator in cardioprotection afforded by ischemic preconditioning (PC). In the present study, selective inhibitors of the sarcKATP and mitoKATP channels were used to examine the role of each channel subtype in infarct size limitation by KATP channel openers.