Functional comparison of the human isolated femoral artery, internal mammary artery, gastroepiploic artery, and saphenous vein

Human femoral, internal mammary, and gastroepiploic arteries and saphenous veins are used as bypass grafts for coronary surgery or for reconstruction in arterial occlusive disease. We have characterized the contractile responses of these vessels to various agents that are liberated during cardiac or vascular surgery. In organ baths, U46619 (a stable thromboxane A(2) mimetic), norepinephrine, endothelin-1, angiotensin II, and KCl caused concentration-dependent contractions in all vessels tested. Leukotriene C-4 did not induce any contraction in the arteries, whereas a contraction was obtained in the saphenous vein rings. U46619 induced the most powerful contraction in all vessels tested. The pD(2) values for each agent did not differ among the different vessels. When responses were expressed as a percentage of KCl-induced contraction, the contraction of endothelin-1 (151 +/- 5%) and leukotriene C-4 (43 +/- 5%) was more significant on saphenous veins than on arteries. In conclusion, thromboxane A(2) appears to be the most potent endogenous constricting agent on different human vascular beds. Our second finding is that saphenous veins are more sensitive to contract to leukotriene C-4 and endothelin-1 than arteries. These properties may influence early and (or) long-term vein graft patency.