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Stroke, Vol 16, 718-720, Copyright © 1985 by American Heart Association

ARTICLES

5-hydroxytryptamine: source of activator calcium in human basilar arteries

NJ Rusch, D Chyatte, TM Sundt Jr and PM Vanhoutte

We performed experiments in human cerebral arteries to determine the source of activator calcium during contractions induced by 5- hydroxytryptamine. Rings of human basilar artery obtained at autopsy were mounted for isometric tension recording in organ baths filled with a physiological salt solution. Contractile responses to 5- hydroxytryptamine were virtually abolished in Ca++-free solution, and inhibited significantly by nimodipine. In both cases, the depression of the response to 5-hydroxytryptamine was comparable to that seen when KCl was used to contract the vessels. These experiments demonstrate that 5-hydroxytryptamine mediates contraction of the smooth muscle in human basilar artery by increasing membrane permeability to extracellular calcium.