Hypoxia and metabolic inhibitors alter the intracellular ATP:ADP ratio and membrane potential in human coronary artery smooth muscle cells

ATP-sensitive potassium (K ATP ) channels couple cellular metabolism to excitability, making them ideal candidate sensors for hypoxic vasodilation. However, it is still unknown whether cellular nucleotide levels are affected sufficiently to activate vascular K ATP channels during hypoxia. To address this fundamental issue, we measured changes in the intracellular ATP:ADP ratio using the biosensors Perceval/PercevalHR, and membrane potential...