Features of distinct contractions induced with a high and a low concentration of KCl, noradrenaline, and histamine in swine lingual artery.

We investigated the features of swine lingual artery contraction induced with different strengths of stimulation. Endothelium-denuded artery rings were contracted with two concentrations of KCl, noradrenaline, and histamine with or without Y-27632, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), 2,2-diphenyl-1,3,2-oxaza-borolidine internal salt (2- APB), and extracellular Ca2+. While stored at 5 degrees C up to 3 days, artery rings remained active to strong stimulation but became inactive to weak stimulation if prior warming was lacking. Artery rings contracted slowly and progressively to weak stimulation but rapidly to strong stimulation and then kept a plateau or slightly relaxed. Y-27632, SNP, and 2-APB, irrespective of extracellular Ca2+, attenuated weak-stimulation-induced contractions to much greater extents except that 2-APB similarly diminished contractions to both noradrenaline concentrations. Without extracellular Ca2+, transitory contractions occurred with one peak to strong stimulation and two small peaks to weak stimulation, though one full peak to both noradrenaline concentrations. Artery rings lost stimulant responsiveness when extracellular Ca2+ was absent, but subsequent Ca2+ reintroduction without coexisting stimulant triggered transient contractions, which were as large as contractions to weak stimulation with extracellular Ca2+ and ceased with Y-27632, SNP, and 2-APB. These results collectively suggest that, in the lingual artery, its contraction properties shift coupling with strengths of both receptor- and voltage-mediated stimulation, with the tonic-like component being dominant in weak-stimulation-induced contraction.