The preservation of functional activity of smooth muscle and endothelium in pig coronary arteries after storage at -190 degrees C.
Pig coronary arteries have been investigated in-vitro using fresh tissue or after storage at -190 C in foetal calf serum containing 1.8 M dimethyl sulphoxide. Attention was paid to modulation of contractile activity and endothelium-dependent relaxation. After cryopreservation of the arteries maximal contractile responses to both 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) were markedly reduced and the pD2 values for both agonists were slightly, but significantly, diminished. Nevertheless, 5-HT antagonism by ketanserin and pizotifen was unchanged. Endothelium-independent relaxant responses of precontracted arteries to isoprenaline, forskolin, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, nitroprusside, atriopeptin III and cromakalim were generally unchanged after storage. Mechanical removal of the endothelium by rubbing enhanced the contractile response to PGF2 alpha in both fresh and stored arteries to a similar extent. In addition, endothelium-dependent relaxant responses to both 5-HT and substance P were well maintained, suggesting release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor by the stored arteries. The evidence suggests that after cryopreservation of pig coronary arteries at -190 degrees C mechanisms of relaxation, in particular those which are endothelium-dependent, are well maintained.
Schoeffter
P
P
Preclinical Research, Sandoz Pharma A.G., Basel, Switzerland.
Müller-Schweinitzer
E
E
D000818:Animals; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015925:Cryopreservation; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D013552:Swine; D014021:Tissue Preservation
D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D015237:Dinoprost