Deficiency in nitric oxide bioactivity in epicardial coronary arteries of cigarette smokers.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to examine nitric oxide-mediated regulation of epicardial coronary arterial tone in cigarette smokers.


BACKGROUND
Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease and is highly prevalent in patients with coronary spastic angina. Long-term exposure to cigarette smoking has been recently reported to suppress endothelium-dependent arterial relaxation in vivo humans.


METHODS
Responses of epicardial coronary artery diameter to single or combined infusion of acetylcholine and NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) into the left main coronary artery were examined in 11 current smokers and 17 nonsmokers using quantitative coronary angiography.


RESULTS
Acetylcholine dilated one-third of the proximal segments and most of the distal segments of coronary arteries in nonsmokers, whereas it constricted most of the proximal and distal segments in smokers. L-NMMA decreased the basal diameter of coronary arteries in nonsmokers but had minimal effect on the basal diameter in smokers. L-NMMA abolished the dilator response to acetylcholine in the coronary arteries of nonsmokers but had minimal effect on the constrictor response to acetylcholine in the arteries of smokers. The dilator response to nitroglycerin was significantly increased in the coronary arteries of smokers compared with in those of nonsmokers. The constrictor response to L-NMMA at rest was significantly correlated with the dilator response to nitroglycerin and with the diameter changes to acetylcholine in both smokers and nonsmokers.


CONCLUSIONS
Nitric oxide bioactivity at rest and at acetylcholine-stimulated conditions in smokers was decreased, leading to the supersensitivity of the artery to the dilator effect of nitroglycerin as well as the constrictor effect of acetylcholine in smokers. Cigarette smoking affects nitric oxide-mediated regulation of coronary artery tone.
Division of Cardiology, Kumamoto University School of Medicine, Japan. kiyo@gpo.kumamoto-u.ac.jp
K
K
Kugiyama
H
H
Yasue
M
M
Ohgushi
T
T
Motoyama
H
H
Kawano
Y
Y
Inobe
O
O
Hirashima
S
S
Sugiyama
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000187:drug effects; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000494:pharmacology; D010496:Pericardium; D012907:Smoking; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine / Q000494:pharmacology
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D000109:Acetylcholine