Action of neurotransmitters: Acetylcholine, adrenaline and serotonin on arterial thrombosis induced by a laser beam

The releasing of catecholamines is increased in stress situation which promotes the formation of circulating platelet aggregates, and could participate in the arterial thrombosis formation in coronary diseases. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the thrombogenic action of some neurotransmitters, and their participation through the vessel's vasomotoricity, in the growth of an arteriolar thrombosis. Endothelial cells destruction, induced by a laser beam in mesenteric arteriole of the rat were observed to determine changes in thrombus growth, through the embolization and variation of vessel diameter. It is desirable to get insight into the interrelation of thrombus formation and local vasomotoricity in the presence of acetylcholine, adrenaline and serotonin. The administration of acetylcholine (5mg/kg) increases the number of emboli which detached from thrombus, and decreases the thrombus area. Therefore, acetylcholine induces a variation of the vessel's diameter, a vasodilatation in the intact vessel and a vasoconstriction when the endothelium is removed. Two vasoconstrictor agents are used : adrenaline and serotonin which increase the number of laser injuries required to induce thrombus formation, decrease the number of emboli and the duration of embolization (p<0.05). They cause a potent vasoconstriction. These neurotransmitters seem to be involved in the arterial thrombosis induced by laser beam, promoting or not the platelet aggregation, and modulating the vascular tone by the endothelium. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd