Effects of Intracoronary Administration of Endothelin in Anesthetized Dogs

The effects of synthetic endothelin on the coronary circulation were studied in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs and compared with those of Bay k 8644, a dihydropyridine calcium channel agonist, and U 46619, a thromboxane analogue. Intracoronary bolus administration of endothelin reduced coronary blood flow and increased coronary arterial resistance. Similarly, intracoronary bolus administration of equipotent doses of Bay k 8644 or U 46619 significantly reduced coronary blood flow and increased coronary arterial resistance. The coronary vasoconstrictor effects of endothelin were long-lasting as compared with the transient actions of Bay k 8644 and U 46619. Intracoronary bolus injection of endothelin also reduced left ventricular (LV) dP/dt arterial pressure (MAP), and cardiac output (CO). In contrast, Bay k 8644 increased LVdP/dt but did not alter CO or MAP. Intracoronary bolus injection of U 46619 did not affect MAP, CO, or LVdP/dt. In a separate group of animals, intracoronary infusion of nitrendipine significantly increased coronary blood flow and reduced coronary arterial resistance. Other cardiovascular parameters measured were not significantly altered. In the presence of nitrendipine, the effects of intracoronary administration of endothelin and U 46619 on coronary blood flow, coronary arterial resistance, and LVdP/dt were only partially antagonized. On the other hand, the effects of Bay k 8644 were completely prevented in the presence of nitrendipine. These studies show that at doses which reduce coronary blood flow to the same extent, only endothelin produces myocardial depression in anesthetized dogs. The cardiovascular actions of endothelin were only partially antagonized by nitrendipine, suggesting that mechanisms other than calcium influx through voltage-operated channels are involved.