title: In vitro effects of a thromboxane A2-analogue U-46619 and noradrenaline on contractions of the human thoracic duct.
abstract: A piece of a human thoracic duct removed at operation was investigated in organ baths. The duct was cut in 8 ring segments each about 1mm long and isometric tension recorded. The segments were exposed to a potassium rich (124mM) Krebs buffer solution. In only two of the segments were contractions induced (7.2 and 1.0mN, respectively). Noradrenaline and the thromboxane mimetic U-46619 induced tonic and phasic contractions. At a noradrenaline concentration of 10(-5)M the phasic contractions had a frequency of 5 min-1. The highest frequency, 9 min-1, was recorded with 3 x 10(-10)M of U-46619 present in the bath. Noradrenaline had a mean Emax of 50% of the previous K+ (124mM)-induced contraction, and the mean pEC50-value was 6.7. The Emax and pEC50-values of U-46619 were 142% and 9.5, respectively. Postjunctional alpha-adrenoceptors and thromboxane A2-receptors may play a role in the contractility of the human thoracic duct.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sjöberg
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Steen
mesh_terms: D019796:15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011450:Prostaglandin Endoperoxides, Synthetic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013897:Thoracic Duct / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D013928:Thromboxane A2 / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011450:Prostaglandin Endoperoxides, Synthetic; D013928:Thromboxane A2; D019796:15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid; D009638:Norepinephrine