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Dilatatory capacity of the coronary system in the anesthetized rat

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Summary

The minimal coronary vascular resistance was measured in anesthetized rats. For determination of coronary flow a tube system was inserted which directed the blood from the left carotid artery via the right carotid artery into the ostium of the left or the right coronary artery. A drop chamber in the shunt system enabled flow measurement. Maximal vasodilatation was induced by intra-arterial infusion of adenosine. In non-thoracotomized rats vascular resistance decreased to 20.6% and 20.3% of control values in the left and right coronary artery, respectively (23.8 to 4.9 and 18.2 to 3.7 mm Hg·ml−1·min·g). Thoracotomy led to increased control values (29.3 mm Hg·ml−1·min·g, right coronary artery). Minimal resistance in this latter group was nearly as low as in the closed-chest rats (4.8 mm Hg·ml−1·min·g). It can be assumed that the coronary dilator reserve in the rat lies within the same range as that of larger species e.g. dogs.

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Author notes

  1. F. Vetterlein

    Present address: Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie der Universität Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, D-3400, Göttingen, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie der Universität Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, D-3400, Göttingen, Germany

    G. Schmidt

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  1. F. Vetterlein
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Additional information

This study has been supported by the “Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, SFB 89, Kardiologie Göttingen”.

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Vetterlein, F., Schmidt, G. Dilatatory capacity of the coronary system in the anesthetized rat. Basic Res Cardiol 80, 661–669 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01907865

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01907865

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