Passive Smoking Impairs Endothelium-Dependent
Relaxation of Isolated Rabbit Arteries
J. Török1, A. Gvozdjáková2, J. Kucharská2, I. Balažovjech3, S.
Kyselá1, F. Šimko4, J. Gvozdják2
1Institute of Normal and Pathological
Physiology Slovak Academy of Sciences, 2Pharmacobiochemical Laboratory, 3Second
Department of Internal Medicine and 4Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of
Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Received August 15, 1999
Accepted September 21, 1999
Summary
The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of prolonged passive smoking
(lasting 3 weeks) on plasma catecholamine levels and reactivity of isolated rabbit
arteries. Plasma noradrenaline, adrenaline and dopamine levels were determined radioenzymatically. Isolated rings of the thoracic aorta and carotid artery were suspended
in organ chambers and connected to a force transducer for the recording of isometric
tension. Plasma noradrenaline levels were found to be significantly elevated in rabbits
subjected to passive smoking for 3 weeks. Plasma adrenaline and dopamine levels were not
changed. Transmural nerve stimulation of arterial rings evoked frequency-dependent
contractions. Prolonged passive smoking did not affect neurogenic contractions of the
arteries tested. On the other hand, endothelium-dependent relaxations of phenylephrine-precontracted arteries were significantly impaired. Furthermore, hypertrophy
of the left ventricle was observed. In conclusion, passive smoking impairs
endothelium-dependent relaxations but not neurogenic contractions of systemic arteries.
The impaired relaxations of arteries may be, at least in part, mediated through the
degradation of released nitric oxide by superoxide anions derived from cigarette smoke.
Key words
Passive smoking · Cardiac hypertrophy · Endothelium-dependent relaxation · Thoracic
aorta · Carotid artery
Reprint requests
Dr. J. Török, Institute of Normal and Pathological Physiology, Slovak Academy of
Sciences, Sienkiewiczova 1
813 71 Bratislava, Slovak Republic. E-mail: torok@unpf.savba.sk.
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