Coronary Vascular Nitric Oxide Activity in Hypertension and Hypercholesterolemia

Abstract

(1) Substance P- and acetylcholine-induced coronary vasodilation, like that to acetylcholine, is at least partly due to stimulation of NO activity, indicating that the dysfunction of the coronary vascular endothelial cell layer is not restricted to muscarinic receptors. (2) Hypertension and hypercholesterolemia are associated with depression of both basal and pharmacologically stimulated bioavailability of NO.