Mechanisms of methacholine-induced coronary vasospasm in an experimental model of variant angina in the anesthetized rat.

Methacholine (Mch), when injected near the ostia of the coronary arteries, induces an intense coronary vasospasm which can be measured by the degree of S wave elevation monitored from an electrocardiogram (ECG). The observed ECG changes resemble those occurring in patients with variant angina. The effects of Mch were blocked by atropine, but not by d-tubocurarine, hexamethonium, adrenergic receptor blockade, or prior reserpinization, indicating that Mch is acting directly on muscarinic receptors to produce a vasoconstriction of the coronary arteries. This model of Mch-induced coronary vasospasm appears to be useful for testing spasmolytic agents which might be of benefit in variant angina.