Vasa vasorum in atherosclerotic coronary arteries: responses to vasoactive stimuli and regression of atherosclerosis.

• DOI: 10.1161/01.res.62.3.515
• Publication Date: 2012-06-12T00:17:09Z
• Authors: J K Williams; M L Armstrong; D D Heistad
• Keywords: Vasa vasorum; Coronary arteries; Coronary atherosclerosis; Phenylephrine

The goals of this study were to determine whether vasa vasorum in atherosclerotic coronary arteries respond vasoactive stimuli and examine effects regression atherosclerosis on blood flow through arteries. We studied three groups monkeys: normal, atherosclerotic, regression. Blood was measured with microspheres. intima-media (ml/min x 100 g) 5 +/- 1 (mean SEM) normal 47 7 monkeys (p less than 0.05). Infusion phenylephrine or serotonin did not alter monkeys. In monkeys, decreased 24 4 0.05), 27 sixfold (7 2 ml/min During infusion adenosine, fourfold greater after atherosclerosis. This finding suggests that loss vessels, constriction existing accounts for the decrease conclude vasoconstrictor there is a large