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In vitro effects of parasympathetic agonists and atropine on human segmental pulmonary arteries

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Abstract

Contractile responses of 39 segmental pulmonary artery specimens from 23 patients undergoing thoracic surgery were studied with in vitro technique. Cumulative dose-response curves were elicited with both acetylcholine (ACh) and carbachol (Carb). No statistically significant difference was found between average maximal contraction of the vascular strips, threshold doses or ED 50 for the two substances, whereas the concentration giving rise to maximal contraction was probably significantly lower for Carb (p < 0,05). Atropine completely blocked both the ACh- and Carb-induced contraction, whereas the contraction induced with prostaglandin F\(F_{2\alpha } \left( {PGF_{2\alpha } } \right)\), norepinephrine (NE), histamine (H) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) could not be reversed with ACh or Carb, indicating that an active relaxation of the pulmonary arteries could not be induced in vitro. A contracting effect of parasympathetic agonists is postulated, at least in segmental pulmonary arteries.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Lung Medicine, University Hospital, S-221 85, Lund, Sweden

    Jacob Boe M. D. & Bo G. Simonsson

  2. Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden

    Erik Ståhl

  3. Department of Research Department 1, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden

    Jacob Boe M. D. & Mari-Anne Boe

Authors
  1. Jacob Boe M. D.
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  2. Mari-Anne Boe
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  3. Bo G. Simonsson
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  4. Erik Ståhl
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Additional information

This research was supported by grants from the Swedish National Association against Heart and Chest Diseases and Glaxo Läkemedel AB, Sweden. Jacob Boe is the recipient of a personal research grant from ‘Förenade Liv’ Mutual Group Life Insurance Company, Stockholm, Sweden.

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Boe, J., Boe, MA., Simonsson, B.G. et al. In vitro effects of parasympathetic agonists and atropine on human segmental pulmonary arteries. Lung 157, 65–70 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02713598

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02713598

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