Vascular contraction in perfused carotid arteries of cholesterol-fed rabbits

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of hypercholesterolemia on sympathetic vascular responsiveness in the perfused rabbit carotid artery. Two groups of rabbit carotid arteries were evaluated for the simultaneous measurement of noradrenaline (NA) release and vasoconstrictor response induced by electric nerve stimulation and for exogenous NA-induced vasoconstriction in vitro. One group of rabbits was fed a diet containing 0.5% cholesterol for 2 weeks and the other group was fed standard rabbit chow. By scanning electron microscopy, monocytes adhering to the endothelial cells and penetrating into the subendothelium were observed. Neither endothelial denudation nor platelet adhesion could be detected. Rabbit carotid arteries were cannulated and perfused with a physiological solution at a constant flow rate. The vessels were subjected to both transmural field stimulation (TFS; 1.5-24 Hz) and exogenous NA administration. TFS caused a frequency-dependent increase in endogenous NA release with subsequent pressor responses in both groups. Exogenous NA also induced a dose-dependent pressor response, but a significant reduction was observed in the cholesterol-fed group. Methoxamine induced a similar response in both groups. It was concluded that hypercholesterolemia decreased the sensitivity of extrajunctional alpha-receptors in the perfused rabbit carotid artery.