Cardiovascular research
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Cardiovascular research · Apr 1999
Comparative StudyPharmacological characterisation of endothelium-dependent relaxation in human radial artery: comparison with internal thoracic artery.
The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of nitric oxide/prostanoid-independent pathways to endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in human conduit arteries. ⋯ In ITA relaxations to carbachol and bradykinin were mediated via nitric oxide. In contrast in RA, a conduit vessel of similar diameter, both nitric oxide-dependent and independent pathways appeared to contribute to vascular relaxation. This nitric oxide-independent relaxation involved opening of Ca2+ activated potassium channel(s). The existence of alternative pathways mediating endothelium-independent relaxation could be important under pathological conditions and may contribute to the long term survival of radial artery grafts.