Vagally and acetylcholine-mediated constriction in small pulmonary vessels of rabbits

Using a new X-ray TV system, we analyzed effects of vagal nerve stimulation (VNS; 1-30 Hz) and intravenous injection of acetylcholine (Ach; 0.3-0.9 microgram) on the internal diameter (ID; 100-1,500 microns) of small pulmonary arteries and veins in anesthetized rabbits. In selective segments of the arteries, ID decreased abruptly and maximally by 50-70% in a specific stimulus frequency to the vagal nerve and a dose of ACh. The vasoconstrictor sites were distributed near the branching points of the arteries, particularly those downstream, and their numbers increased with an increase in the stimulus frequencies and ACh doses. The relative frequencies of occurrences were 15.3% with VNS (30 Hz) and 5.3% with ACh (0.9 microgram). In nonselective segments with VNS, ID decreased frequency dependently by 0, 4, 12, and 26% at 1, 4, 15, and 30 Hz, respectively, and with ACh, decreased dose dependently by 21 and 35% with 0.3 and 0.9 microgram, respectively. The vasoconstriction in response to VNS and ACh was attenuated by atropine, enhanced by eserine, and not affected by phentolamine. That vasoconstriction to VNS was abolished by hexamethonium. No selective constriction was found in veins and the ID was decreased uniformly by 1-2% with VNS and ACh.