title: Influence of opioids on the vascular tone of isolated porcine coronary artery segments.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It was the aim of this study to elucidate the influence of opioids on coronary vascular tone using the model of isolated porcine coronary artery segments.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied the effects of fentanyl (0.01, 0.1, 1.0 microg ml(-1)), alfentanil (0.1, 1.0, 10 microg ml(-1)), and sufentanil (0.01, 0.1, 1.0 microg ml(-1)) on the contractile response to three vasoconstrictors, acetylcholine, histamine and serotonin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fentanyl (0.1, 1.0 microg x ml(-1)) dose-dependently attenuated the contractile response to acetylcholine, but not to histamine and serotonin. There were no differences in fentanyl's vasorelaxing potency between rings with intact and denuded endothelium. Alfentanil and sufentanil did not exert any significant influence on any of the vasoconstrictors tested.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is concluded that, in isolated porcine coronary artery rings, fentanyl at high concentrations has an attenuating effect on acetylcholine-induced contractions, which is independent of endothelial function, whereas alfentanil and sufentanil do not influence coronary vascular tone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiological Research, Centre of Anesthesiology, Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine, Georg-August-University of Goettingen, Germany.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Klockgether-Radke
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gravemann
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kettler
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hellige
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009129:Muscle Tonus / Q000187:drug effects; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D017409:Sufentanil / Q000494:pharmacology; D013552:Swine; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D017409:Sufentanil