1. The rat intermediate conductance calcium‐activated potassium channel (ImK) was cloned from a cDNA library of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSM) in rat pulmonary artery. The ImK distributes in a variety of tissue, including VSM, endothelial cells, leucocytes and fibroblasts. The ImK has a tyrosine phosphorylation consensus site in the proximal portion of the C‐terminus and motifs exist for the DNA‐binding protein AP‐1 in the promoter, suggesting this channel is upregulated and active in cell cycle functions. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of ImK in postischaemic cardiovascular remodelling in relation to the angiotensin AT₁ receptor‐mediated AP‐1 signalling pathway.

2. Rats underwent left coronary artery ligation for periods between 1 day and 3 weeks. The temporal profile of expression of ImK mRNA was analysed by RNase protection assay. To test the effect of AT₁ receptor blockade, candesartan (3 mg/kg per day) was administered via an osmotic mini‐pump implanted in the intraperitoneal space 3 days prior to coronary occlusion.

3. ImK expression in postischaemic hearts showed a significant increase with two distinct peaks; the first peak at day 3 (2.7‐fold compared with control levels; P < 0.001) and the second after 2 weeks (1.5‐fold; P < 0.01). Reperfusion following 30 min of ischaemia markedly accelerated and augmented the first peak at days 1–3 (4.8‐fold), but completely abolished the second peak after 1–2 weeks (0.8‐fold). In situ hybridization of ImK mRNA and immunostaining of ImK protein with specific antibody revealed that this was not only the result of the increase in ImK expression in vascular cells, but also related to infiltration of mononuclear leucocytes and fibroblasts into the ischaemic region. Candesartan inhibited cardiac hypertrophy and perivascular fibrosis of coronary arterioles in the non‐ischaemic region. Candesartan also abrogated both peaks in ImK expression.

4. These findings indicate that both the inflammatory reaction and the postischaemic cardiovascular remodelling promote increased expression of ImK in postischaemic hearts via the AT₁ receptor‐mediated AP‐1 signalling pathway.