Canine coronary venous pressures: responses to positive inotropism and vasodilation.

The epicardial coronary venous pressure in 16 dogs was compared with coronary arterial pressure as well as aortic, intraventricular, and intramyocardial pressures. Partial aortic occlusion augmented intraventricular (IVP), intramyocardial (IMP), aortic (AP), and coronary arterial pressures. Peripheral coronary venous pressure was also elevated. Dobutamine significantly augmented IVP and IMP but not aortic or central coronary artery pressures; this agent significantly elevated coronary venous systolic pressure (28/8 to 84/12 mmHg) (1 mmHg = 133.322 Pa). Nitroglycerine decreased IVP, IMP, and AP significantly. Central coronary arterial pressure also fell significantly, but coronary venous pressures remained unchanged. In contrast dipyridamole resulted in no change in IVP, IMP, AP, or coronary arterial systolic pressures; however, the peripheral coronary venous systolic pressure became significantly elevated. Thus the two vasodilators, nitroglycerine and dipyridamole, had different effects upon coronary venous pressure. These data reinforce the recently expressed view that coronary veins behave in a complex fashion and further suggest that their pressures are dependent upon coronary artery pressure, intramyocardial pressure, and coronary venous tone.