Abstract
The role of the endothelium to influence smooth muscle contraction in normal and varicose veins was investigated in vitro using saphenous vein preparations obtained at vascular surgery. Paired control and endothelium-denuded rings were tested simultaneously and contracted with noradrenaline (10(-9)-10(-4) M). Identical experiments were also performed on sheep femoral veins and arteries. Noradrenaline induced maximal tension was 30% lower in varicose compared to normal veins. In normal veins removal of endothelium significantly reduced the maximal response to noradrenaline by 40% whereas in varicose veins no significant reduction could be seen. In the sheep femoral vein removal of the endothelium also resulted in decrease of noradrenaline-induced contraction. It can be concluded that in the human saphenous vein the endothelium has a contraction facilitating effect in response to stimulation with noradrenaline. In varicose veins the endothelial-mediated enhancement of noradrenaline-induced vasoconstriction is reduced probably because of endothelial damage. This observation may be of importance in the pathogenesis of varicose veins.
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