Effects of the K+ channel opener KRN4884 on multiple risk factor for cardiovascular disease in fructose-fed rats

We examined the effects of the potassium channel opener KRN4884 on cardiovascular risk factors in rats. High-fructose diet rats became hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, increase in low density/high density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio, hyperinsulinemia and impairment of glucose tolerance. Thus, the symptoms of fructose-fed rats closely resemble those of "syndrome X". KRN4884 (0.3 - 3.0 mg/kg, b.i.d., p.o.) alleviated the risk factors in fructose-fed rats. KRN4884 also reduced the intra-abdominal fat weight. In contrast, KRN4884 (0.3 - 1.0 mg/kg, b.i.d., p.o.) did not effect serum triglyceride, cholesterol and insulin concentration in normal rats. These findings suggest that KRN4884 is useful for the therapy of cardiovascular risk factors： e.g. syndrome X and intra-abdominal fat accumulation.