Local specificity in responses of canine coronary vessels to oxygen deficiency and antianginal drugs.

Influence of oxygen deficiency and vasodilating drugs on coronary arterial tonus was investigated. In the fibrillating heart, hypoxia initially decreased total coronary resistance, later increased it, and exerted little effect on large coronary arteries. Dilation of helically cut specimens of the small coronary arteries occurred more readily than observed in large arteries in response to N2 bubbling or KCN. In the small arteries, the mitochondrial population was more numerous in cellular units and succinic dehydrogenase activity was greater, suggesting that these vessels are more dependent on aerobic metabolism for the maintenance of integrity. Nitrate vasodilators relaxed selectively the large arteries, while adenosine, prenylamine and carbochromen dilated preferentially the small arteries. Dipyridamole, iproveratril, papaverine and propranolol relaxed both arteries equally; however, except for propranolol, these drugs produced preferential relaxation of the small vessels in the fibrillating hearts.