title: Altered endothelium-mediated relaxation after denervation of growing rabbit ear artery.
abstract: The relaxation response to methacholine and sodium nitroprusside was examined in ring segments from the posterior auricular artery and its continuation the central ear artery in growing rabbits 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks following unilateral adrenergic and sensory denervation. The maximal relaxation achieved by methacholine (endothelium-dependent) was significantly depressed in the denervated arteries compared with the contralateral controls. Sodium nitroprusside (endothelium-independent relaxant agent) elicited the maximal relaxation in all tissues. These results demonstrated impaired arterial endothelium-dependent relaxation to methacholine after chronic denervation.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D004431:Ear, External / Q000098:blood supply; D004727:Endothelium / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D008688:Methacholine Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D009126:Muscle Relaxation; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008688:Methacholine Compounds; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D009599:Nitroprusside