title: Reactivity of the Human Internal Mammary Artery and the Gastroepiploic Artery to Constrictor Substances.
abstract: The internal mammary artery (IMA) and the gastroepiploic artery (GEA) are frequently used to construct coronary artery bypass grafts. In order to determine and to compare their contractile properties, we studied the effects of constricting agents which are liberated or infused during coronary bypass surgery. IMA and GEA were arranged as ring segments and suspended in organ baths at optimal stretch using a normalization procedure. Concentration-contraction curves to angiotensin II, norepinephrine, U-46619, endothelin-1, leukotriene C(4) and KCl were performed. The sensitivity (pD(2)) of GEA and IMA to all the agents did not differ. However, GEA developed stronger maximal contraction force than IMA to angiotensin II (P < 0.001), norepinephrine (P < 0.05), U-46619 (P = 0.06), endothelin-1 (P < 0.01), and KCl (P < 0.01), whereas leukotriene C(4) did not induce a significant contraction on GEA and IMA. The higher contractility of GEA may explain that it is more prone to spasm than IMA in the clinical setting. This study reinforces IMA as a first-choice conduit for coronary artery bypass and emphasizes the need for antispastic drugs particularly when GEA is used as bypass vessel.http://link.springer-ny.com/link/service/journals/00547/bibs/8n4p187.html</hea
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology Laboratory, PCEBM, Faculté de Médecine, 38706 La Tronche Cedex, France
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cracowski
authors.lastname: Stanke Labesque F
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Chavanon
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bessard
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Devillier