title: A comparative evaluation of the effects of multiple vasodilators on human internal mammary artery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vasospasm of arterial grafts represents an unpredictable complication of coronary artery surgery and may compromise myocardial revascularization, and treatment is based on empirical therapy with nitroglycerin. Because of the potential for tolerance to nitroglycerin to occur, the authors studied different vasodilators acting through separate pathways on segments of human internal mammary artery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Isolated vascular rings were precontracted with norepinephrine (1 microM), KCl, or the thromboxane A2 analogue (U46619, 10 nm). Nitroglycerin (a nitrovasodilator), milrinone (a type III phosphodiesterase inhibitor), papaverine (a phosphodiesterase inhibitor), prostaglandin E1, and isradipine (a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker) were added in a cumulative fashion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis of the concentration-response curves showed that vasodilators induced 90-100% relaxation of the constricted segments with norepinephrine or the thromboxane A2 analogue, except prostaglandin E1, which produced 73% relaxation at maximal concentrations. The effective concentrations of vasodilator agent that caused 50% relaxation for nitroglycerin and milrinone were within the range of the reported therapeutic concentrations in plasma. Isradipine was also effective at reversing receptor-mediated contraction (maximal relaxation=100% in internal mammary artery contracted with norepinephrine; maximal relaxation=0% in internal mammary artery contracted with the thromboxane A2 analogue).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vasodilator drugs acting through multiple pathways are effective at reversing in vitro vasoconstriction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huraux
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Makita
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Montes
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Szlam
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008323:Mammary Arteries / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects; D013928:Thromboxane A2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D013928:Thromboxane A2