Neurogenic vasoconstriction of cat cerebral and femoral arteries

1. Segments of cat posterior communicating artery and femoral artery submitted to field electrical stimulation showed frequency-dependent contractile responses which were decreased by tetrodotoxin, bretylium, and reserpine pretreatment. Phentolamine could only reduce the response of femoral artery segments. Superior cervical gangliectomy also decreased the contractions of cerebral cylinders. 2. The tritium released by electrical stimulation from both kinds of vessels preloaded with [3H]noradrenaline appeared reduced in the presence of tetrodotoxin, bretylium, and after reserpine pretreatment. It was also decreased in cerebral segments after superior cervical gangliectomy. 3. These results suggest that the electrical field stimulates the sympathetic nerve endings of these vessels.