Acetylcholine induces vasodilatation in the rabbit isolated heart through the release of nitric oxide, the endogenous nitrovasodilator.

Abstract

1. Acetylcholine (ACh, 0.03-3.0 microM) induced a dose-dependent vasodilatation in the isolated Langendorff-perfused heart of the rabbit. The vasodilatation was mimicked by exogenous nitric oxide (NO, 0.045-4.5 nmol). 2. There was no detectable vascular relaxing activity in the cardiac effluent when these concentrations of ACh or NO were injected through the heart, even in the presence of an infusion of superoxide dismutase (SOD). 3. Acetylcholine (0.03-3.0 microM), however, induced the release into the cardiac effluent of a material which produced a chemiluminescent signal when reacted with ozone, a response which could be mimicked with exogenous NO (0.045-4.5 nmol) injected through the hea..