Responsiveness of Equine Basilar Artery to Transmural Nerve Stimulation Differs from That of Porcine and Bovine Basilar Arteries in Vitro

Abstract

Transmural nerve stimulation (TNS) induced relaxations in porcine and bovine basilar arteries which were abolished by tetrodotoxin (TTX) and by L-nitro-arginine (LNAG). However, TNS induced contractions in equine basilar artery which were abolished by TTX and by guanethidine, but not by LNAG. These results suggest that the TNS-induced contractions of equine basilar arteries may be mediated by norepinephrine release.