Neuronal control of coronary blood flow

Controversies on acetylcholine-induced increases or decreases in coronary blood flow arise from obvious species differences, the role of endothelium in mediating vascular smooth muscle responses, and the marked negative chronotropic and inotropic effects of acetylcholine. In man, there appears to be a predominant dilation of intact epicardial coronary arteries and a constriction of artherosclerotic segments. However, at present there is no evidence for a vagal initiation of myocardial ischemia. Coronary vascular β-adrenergic receptors mediate dilation, but appear to be functionally insignificant during sympathetic activation. The β-adrenergic mechanism contributing to myocardial ischemia are indirect, mediated by a tachycardia-related redistribution of blood flow away from the ischemic myocardium. α-Adrenergic receptors mediating epicardial coronary artery constriction in experimental studies appear not to be responsible for the initiation of ischemia in patients with angina at rest. However, α-adrenergic constriction of coronary resistance vessels resulting in the precipitation of poststenotic myocardial ischemia was demonstrated in experimental studies and recently confirmed in patients with effort angina. Non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic neurotransmitters exist; however, their role in regulating coronary blood flow remains entirely unclear.