1. The aim of this study was to investigate whether endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced constriction of large and small coronary arteries in the anaesthetized greyhound is modulated by the endogenous release of nitric oxide or prostanoids. 2. ET-1 (1-100 ng/kg) and the alpha1-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine (0.5-2 mu g/kg), when injected directly into the circumflex coronary artery, caused dose-dependent decreases in epicardial coronary artery diameter and coronary vascular conductance without affecting systemic arterial pressure or the rate and force of cardiac contraction. 3. Inhibition of NO synthesis with N-nitro-L-arginine (NOLA, 5 mg/kg, i.c.) decreased coronary artery diameter, coronary conductance and heart rate and increased arterial pressure. The coronary vasoconstrictor response to ET-1 was unaffected by NOLA. By contrast, NOLA significantly increased the phenylephrine-induced constriction of the epicardial coronary artery but not the resistance vessels. 4. Indomethacin (5 mg/kg, i.v.), an inhibitor of cyclo-oxygenase, significantly decreased epicardial coronary artery diameter but did not affect coronary conductance. Indomethacin had no effect on the coronary vascular responses to ET-1 or phenylephrine. Combined treatment with NOLA plus indomethacin also failed to affect the coronary vasoconstrictor effects of ET-1. 5. Basal release of NO and vasodilator prostanoids modulated resting coronary vascular tone but did not influence the vasoconstrictor responses to endothelin in either large or small coronary arteries.
Animals Arginine