Isolated human coronary arteries in response to vasoconstrictor substances.

In helical strips of human epicardial coronary arteries, norepinephrine produced a concentration-related contraction; the contractions relative to those induced by 30 mM K+ were greater in the proximal portion of the arteries than in the distal portion. The amine-induced contraction was suppressed by treatment with phentolamine. Acetylcholine contracted human coronary arteries but, in contrast, relaxed the monkey coronary arteries (both freshly excised and cadaver) previously contracted with prostaglandin F2 alpha. Both the contraction and relaxation induced by acetylcholine were suppressed by atropine. Removal of the endothelium abolished the relaxation of monkey arteries but did not significantly alter the contraction of human arteries. Human coronary arteries responded to histamine with contractions, which were reversed to relaxations following treatment with chlorpheniramine. It is concluded that, as far as the portions of human coronary arteries used in the present study are concerned, the arterial contraction mediated via alpha-adrenoceptors is inversely related to the distance from the coronary artery orifice. Acetylcholine produces contractions of human coronary arteries, possibly due to activation of muscarinic receptors on smooth muscle cells. Histamine-induced contractions appear to be mediated via H1-receptors.