Endogenous prostaglandin release contributes directly to coronary artery tone.
An in vitro coronary artery preparation of beef heart was found to synthesize and release continuously large amounts of a prostaglandin of the E type. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis with aspirin, indomethacin, or eicosa-5,8,11,14-tetraynoic acid induced a sustained contraction of the coronary artery, and pretreatment with indomethacin diminished markedly the output of prostaglandin into the bathing medium. It appears that prostaglandin E1, generated from within the vessel wall itself, may act as an intrinsic regulator of coronary artery tone in the beef heart, and that blockade of this function leads to vasospasm.
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009129:Muscle Tonus / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011448:Prostaglandin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000502:physiology*; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D011460:Prostaglandins F / Q000494:pharmacology
D011448:Prostaglandin Antagonists; D011453:Prostaglandins; D011458:Prostaglandins E; D011460:Prostaglandins F; D009638:Norepinephrine