Effects of the Endothelium on the Contractile Responses to Norepinephrine in Isolated Proximal and Distal Coronary Artery of Pigs

Effects of the endothelium on the contractile responses to norepinephrine (NE) were investigated in isolated helical strips of the proximal and distal coronaries artery of pigs. The helical strips were immersed in Tris-buffered Tyrode's solution equilibrated with 100% $O_2$ at $35^{\circ}C$ and its isometric tension was measured. NE relaxed the strips precontracted with acetylcholine from both the proximal and distal coronary artery. NE-induced relaxation, which might be induced mainly by $\beta$-adrenoceptor function was dominant in the distal coronary arteries. NE-induced relaxation was converted to a contraction after $\beta$-adrenoceptor blockade with propranolol $(3{\times}10^{-6}M)$. ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptor-mediated contraction by NE was greater in the proximal coronary artery than the distal coronary artery. Quantitatively, ${\alpha}_1$-adrenoceptor mediated contraction by NE was greater than ${\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptor mediated contraction by NE in both arteries. NE-induced relaxation was decreased by rubbing of endothelium in both arteries. ${\alpha}_1-and\;{\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptor mediated contraction by NE were potentiated by rubbing of endothelium in both arteries. Pretreatment with methylene blue, an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase, increased ${\alpha}_1-\;and\;{\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptor mediated contraction by NE in both arteries with endothelium. From the above results, we suggest that the effect of activation of $\alpha$-adrenoceptors by NE may be modulated by endothelium in the proximal and distal coronary arteries of pigs. This effect may be mediated via endothelium derived relaxing factor.