Channel Opener
A channel opener, also known as a channel activator, is a type of drug which facilitates ion flow through ion channels. They include the following: * Potassium channel openers * Calcium channel openers * Sodium channel openers * Chloride channel openers See also * Channel blocker A channel blocker is the biological mechanism in which a particular molecule is used to prevent the opening of ion channels in order to produce a physiological response in a cell. Channel blocking is conducted by different types of molecules, su ... Ion channel openers {{pharmacology-stub ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Drug
A drug is any chemical substance that causes a change in an organism's physiology or psychology when consumed. Drugs are typically distinguished from food and substances that provide nutritional support. Consumption of drugs can be via insufflation (medicine), inhalation, drug injection, injection, smoking, ingestion, absorption (skin), absorption via a dermal patch, patch on the skin, suppository, or sublingual administration, dissolution under the tongue. In pharmacology, a drug is a chemical substance, typically of known structure, which, when administered to a living organism, produces a biological effect. A pharmaceutical drug, also called a medication or medicine, is a chemical substance used to pharmacotherapy, treat, cure, preventive healthcare, prevent, or medical diagnosis, diagnose a disease or to promote well-being. Traditionally drugs were obtained through extraction from medicinal plants, but more recently also by organic synthesis. Pharmaceutical drugs may be used ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Ion Channel
Ion channels are pore-forming membrane proteins that allow ions to pass through the channel pore. Their functions include establishing a resting membrane potential, shaping action potentials and other electrical signals by gating the flow of ions across the cell membrane, controlling the flow of ions across secretory and epithelial cells, and regulating cell volume. Ion channels are present in the membranes of all cells. Ion channels are one of the two classes of ionophoric proteins, the other being ion transporters. The study of ion channels often involves biophysics, electrophysiology, and pharmacology, while using techniques including voltage clamp, patch clamp, immunohistochemistry, X-ray crystallography, fluoroscopy, and RT-PCR. Their classification as molecules is referred to as channelomics. Basic features There are two distinctive features of ion channels that differentiate them from other types of ion transporter proteins: #The rate of ion transport through the ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Potassium Channel Opener
A potassium channel opener is a type of drug which facilitates ion transmission through potassium channels. Examples Some examples include: *Diazoxide vasodilator used for hypertension, smooth muscle relaxing activity *Minoxidil vasodilator used for hypertension, also used to treat hair loss *Nicorandil vasodilator used to treat angina *Pinacidil *Retigabine, an anticonvulsant * Flupirtine, analgesic with muscle relaxant and anticonvulsant properties See also * Potassium channel blocker Potassium channel blockers are agents which interfere with conduction through potassium channels. Medical uses Arrhythmia Potassium channel blockers used in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmia are classified as class III antiarrhythmic age ... References {{pharmacology-stub ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Calcium Channel Opener
A calcium channel opener is a type of drug which facilitates ion transmission through calcium channels. An example is Bay K8644, which is an analogue of nifedipine that specifically and directly activates L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels. In contrast to Bay K8644, which is not for clinical use, ambroxol is a frequently used mucolytic drug that triggers lysosomal secretion by mobilizing calcium from acidic calcium stores. This effect does most likely not occur by a direct interaction between the drug and a lysosomal calcium channel, but indirectly by neutralizing the acidic pH within lysosomes. Calcium permeable ion channels in lysosomal membranes that may be activated by a luminal pH increase include two pore channels (TPCs), mucolipin TRP channels (TRPMLs) and purinergic receptors of the P2X channel type. See also * Calcium channel blocker Calcium channel blockers (CCB), calcium channel antagonists or calcium antagonists are a group of medications that disrupt the m ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Sodium Channel Opener
A sodium channel opener is a type of drug which facilitates ion transmission through sodium channels. Examples include toxins, such as aconitine, veratridine, batrachotoxin, robustoxin, palytoxin and ciguatoxins and insecticides (DDT and pyrethroids), which activate voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs), and solnatide (AP301), which activates the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). See also * Sodium channel blocker References {{pharmacology-stub Ion channel openers Sodium channels Sodium channel openers, ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Chloride Channel Opener
A chloride channel opener is a type of drug which facilitates ion transmission through chloride channels. An example is 1,10-phenanthroline, which activates Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) chloride channels. GABA-A receptor agonists (e.g. lorazepam) may also be considered chloride channel openers See also * Chloride channel blocker References Further reading * * Ion channel openers Membrane transport modulators {{pharmacology-stub ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Channel Blocker
A channel blocker is the biological mechanism in which a particular molecule is used to prevent the opening of ion channels in order to produce a physiological response in a cell. Channel blocking is conducted by different types of molecules, such as cations, anions, amino acids, and other chemicals. These blockers act as ion channel antagonists, preventing the response that is normally provided by the opening of the channel. Ion channels permit the selective passage of ions through cell membranes by utilizing proteins that function as pores, which allow for the passage of electrical charge in and out of the cell. These ion channels are most often gated, meaning they require a specific stimulus to cause the channel to open and close. These ion channel types regulate the flow of charged ions across the membrane and therefore mediate membrane potential of the cell. Molecules that act as channel blockers are important in the field of pharmacology, as a large portion of drug desi ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |