The Question of the End Effector of Ischemic Postconditioning of the Heart.

Analysis of published data provided evidence that the main candidates for the role of the end effector for ischemic postconditioning of the heart are: 1) BK-type K channels (big conductance K channels); 2) mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K channels; and 3) MPT pores (mitochondrial permeability transition pores). However, some investigators believe that mitoK channels constitute no more than an intermediate link in the chain of signal events mediating increases in the tolerance of the heart to the actions of ischemia-reperfusion. Of these three structures, MPT pores are the most likely end effector. However, it remains possible that there is no unique molecular complex which is the sole end effector of postconditioning. It may be that there are several effectors mediating the cardioprotective effects of the adaptive postconditioning phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]