• 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 210  (1) , 51-55
Abstract
Contractile responses of rabbit aorta strips to norepinephrine in the presence of cocaine, histamine and serotonin entering through the intima were compared with those when these drugs enter via the adventitia. The responses to entry through the inner compared with the outer surface occur after a shorter latency, rise at a greater initial velocity and reach a high steady state. Differences persist after removal of the tunica adventitia. Responses of strips to intimal entry appear identical to those of the intact strip. The results suggest an asymmetry of vascular smooth muscle cell characteristics across the thickness of the tunica media of the rabbit thoracic aorta.