The vasodilator effect of thiamylal in dog mesenteric artery: contribution of intracellular action
The effects of thiamylal on contractions induced by various mechanisms were investigated in mesenteric arteries isolated from dogs. Thiamylal (10−4 to 10−3 M) significantly inhibited contractions induced by KCl (20 mM) in normal media, and those induced by norepinephrine (10−5 M) in normal and Ca2+-free media. Caffeine-induced contraction was significantly inhibited by thiamylal in the concentrations greater than 3 × 10−5 M in intact fibers and 10−5 M in chemically skinned fibers. Chemically skinned fibers that were precontracted with Ca2+ were relaxed by thiamylal in concentrations lower than those required to relax intact fibers that were precontracted with KCl (20 mM); the ED50 was 1.52 × 10−5 M in skinned fibers and 5.50 × 10−4 M in intact fibers. These results suggest that intracellular mechanisms are involved in thiamylal-induced vasodilatation of dog mesenteric artery.Key words: barbiturates, thiamylal, mesenteric artery, vascular smooth muscle.