Glucose dependence of sequential norepinephrine contractions of vascular smooth muscle.

The effects of successive, norepinephrine (NE)-stimulated, contractions of porcine carotid artery intima-media strips as a function of recovery medium were studied. Recovery following NE stimulation required the presence of glucose in the bathing medium for subsequent force production in response to NE stimulation. Potassium stimulation following failed NE contractions produced maximal contractions. Phosphorous nuclear magnetic resonance studies under similar conditions indicated that the energy state of the tissue was not impaired during and after recovery from NE stimulation without glucose. This study shows that the phasic phase of norepinephrine-stimulated contractions is dependent on the availability of extracellular glucose during the poststimulation recovery period for successive NE contractions.