Modification of phenylephrine induced contraction of human vessel rings by L-arginine and L-arginine methyl ester Influencia del sistema nitridérgico en la respuesta contráctil a fenilefrina de anillos de vasos usados en revascularización coronaria

Abstract

Background: Endothelial dysfunction is associated to a lower production of nitric oxide and a reduction of endothelium mediated vasodilation. Aim: To study the effects of pharmacological agents that modify nitric oxide synthetase (NOS) activity on tension changes induced by phenylephrine in rings of internal mammary and radial arteries and saphenous vein. Material and methods: Vessel rings of 7 to 10 mm length were obtained from 32 patients subjected to coronary vascular surgery. Fourteen samples of radial artery, 12 samples of internal mammary artery and 15 samples of saphenous vein were obtained. A maximal contraction was induced with KCl and dose response curves for phenylephrine (FE) in the absence or presence of L-arginine and L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), were constructed. Results: The tension induced by FE in internal mammary artery and saphenous vein reached a maximum, near 90% of 80 mM KCl-induced contraction, but in the radial artery, it reached a maximum of 63% (p <0.05)