Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.  1998 Sep;31(9):884-892.

Reactivity of Human Isolated Gastroepiploic Artery to Constrictor and Relaxant Agents

• Lee JT
• Lee EB
• Park CR
• Kim IG
• Yoo WS
• Yoo YS

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The gastroepiploic artery is not only an alternative graft but also may be considered an important primary graft for coronary revascularization. However, the long-term patency of the gastroepiploic arterial graft is yet to be determined and the incidence of perioperative spasm and long-term patency of a coronary graft may be affected by the properties of the graft response to certain vasoactive substances. The reactivity of the gastroepiploic artery to vasoactive substances has not been studied extensively and the results of the studies are contradictory. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This study was designed to test the reactivity of human gastroepiploic artery to four constrictors and four relaxants. The middle sections of the human gastroepiploic arteries were collected from the patients undergoing gastrectomy and the arterial rings with intact endothelium were suspended in organ baths for isometric tension recording. RESULT: Epinephrine, norepinephrine, and potassium chloride induced the maximum constriction to higher forces (7.0+/-1.1g, 6.6+/-0.9g, and 6.5+/-1.1g) than 5-hydroxytryptamine did (3.8+/-1.7g, p<0.05). Nitroprusside and histamine induced almost full relaxation in the gastroepiploic arteries preconstricted with norepinephrine. There was no significant difference between two relaxants regarding maximum relaxation force. Acetylcholine induced the maximum relaxation to weaker force when compared with nitroprusside and histamine (p<0.05), and isoproterenol was the weakest of the relaxants (p<0.05 compared with acetylcholine).
CONCLUSION
The gastroepiploic artery has a strong capacity of endothelium-dependent relaxation which could have an important influence on long-term patency. The gastroepiploic artery exhibits a potent contractility to catecholamines and the enhanced contractility may facilitate vasospasm in the presence of high circulating levels of catecholamines. Nitroprusside, a potent relaxant in gastroepiploic artery, might be beneficial for the treatment of gastroepiploic arterial graft spasm. The gastroepiploic arterial graft with intact endothelium may respond weakly to beta-adrenoceptor agonist and 5-hydroxytryptamine.

Keyword

Gastroepiplocic artery; Vasoactive substance

MeSH Terms

Acetylcholine
Baths
Catecholamines
Constriction
Endothelium
Epinephrine
Gastrectomy
Gastroepiploic Artery*
Histamine
Humans*
Incidence
Isoproterenol
Nitroprusside
Norepinephrine
Potassium Chloride
Relaxation
Serotonin
Spasm
Transplants
Acetylcholine
Catecholamines
Epinephrine
Histamine
Isoproterenol
Nitroprusside
Norepinephrine
Potassium Chloride
Serotonin