The Vascular Reactivity to Vasoactive Substances and the Electrolyte Contents in Arterial Walls

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Abstract
The reactivity of blood vessels to DL-norepinephrine and angiotensin II was examined using the perfusion technic of isolated hindlimbs of rats and rabbits. Rats with Goldblatt hypertension and animals treated with DOCA, agniotensin II and NaCl; with D-aldosteron 21-monoacetate, angiotensin II and NaCl for 4 weeks; and with angiotensin II were found to show an increased reactivity to vasoactive substances, an increase in the vascular wall potassium content and decrease in serum potassium concentration. Rats treated with amino-nucleoside and with carbon tetrachloride had a decreased reactivity and a decreased potassium content of their arterial walls. Vascular reactivity was elevated in the hind-limbs of rabbits perfused with the solution containing a high concentration of potassium, while it was almost normal when the solution containing a low concentration of potassium was used. The changes in reactivity of the hindlimb vessels did not always parallel the blood pressure changes. These results show that the changes in the intracellular potassium concentration seem to be more important determinants of the changes in the reactivity of the hindlimb vessels to vasoactive agents than the changes in the extracellular potassium concentration.