Endothelium attenuates contractile responses of goat saphenous arteries to adrenergic nerve stimulation.

1. Field electrical stimulation of perfused segments (15 mm long) of the goat saphenous artery caused frequency-dependent increases in perfusion pressure which were blocked by tetrodotoxin, phentolamine or prazosin. 2. Mechanical removal of the endothelium augmented both resting perfusion pressure and responses to electrical stimulation. 3. Methylene blue enhanced responses with intact endothelium only. It is likely that the endothelium exerts part of its inhibitory influence through the activation of guanylate cyclase.