THE EFFECT OF β‐BLOCKADE ON THE TRANSIENT INCREASE IN CORONARY VASCULAR RESISTANCE RESULTING FROM HAEMORRHAGE

Abrupt reduction in aortic blood pressure by haemorrhage in the anaesthetized dog has previously been used to assess the effect of elastic recoil and myogenic properties of the coronary vascular wall on diastolic coronary resistance. Using such assessments this study examines whether β‐blockade influences the magnitude of the effect of the vessel wall on coronary resistance. In two groups of dogs abrupt reduction in aortic blood pressure caused by haemorrhage resulted in an initial increase in diastolic coronary resistance, followed by its decline to the control value. In the first group with intact vagi, β‐blockade resulted in a greater initial increase in resistance and attenuation of its subsequent decline. Vagotomy in the second group did not abolish the effect of β‐blockade on diastolic coronary resistance. The findings suggest that during abrupt reduction in perfusion pressure, β‐blockade and reduction in heart rate and coronary blood flow resulted in a greater elastic recoil of the coronary vascular wall associated with an initial increase in diastolic coronary resistance and attenuation of myogenic properties related to return of diastolic coronary resistance to the control level.