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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2005;28:551-557
© 2005 Elsevier Science NL

Original articles

Skeletonization of internal thoracic artery affects its innervation and reactivity

Marek Andrzej Deja ^{a , *} , Krzysztof S. Goba ^b , Marcin Malinowski ^a , Stanisaw Wo ^a , Maciej Kolowca ^a , Jolanta Biernat ^b , Maciej Kajor ^c , Tomasz J. Spyt ^d

^a 2nd Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, Ul. Zioowa 47, 40-635 Katowice, Poland
^b 2nd Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Silesia, Ul. Zioowa 47, 40-635 Katowice, Poland
^c Department of Pathology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
^d Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Hospitals of Leicester, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK

Received 30 March 2005; received in revised form 17 June 2005; accepted 28 June 2005.

^* Corresponding author. Tel./fax: +48 32 2526093. (Email: narizol{at}slam.katowice.pl).

Abstract

Objective: The studies showing the superior characteristics of ITA graft and its impact on the clinical results of coronary artery surgery were performed with ITA harvested almost exclusively as a pedicle. This study assesses the impact of ITA skeletonization on its innervation and reactivity. Methods: Segments of skeletonized and non-skeletonized ITA were stained with antibodies against protein S-100 to look for the presence of sympathetic nerve fibers. The functional studies were performed on segments of discarded human pedicled ITA that were divided into two 3mm rings, one skeletonized and another non-skeletonized. We compared concentration–effect relationships for the contraction to norepinephrine and endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine and bradykinin, as well as endothelium-independent relaxation to sodium nitroprusside in skeletonized and non-skeletonized segments of the same ITA. Results: Skeletonized ITA was devoid of protein S-100 positive nerve fibers. It contracted stronger (maximal response 37.0±2.04 vs. 25.4±1.83mN (P<0.001)) and was twice as sensitive to norepinephrine: pD₂ 6.03±0.10 vs. 5.70±0.12 (P=0.035). The endothelium-dependent relaxation responses did not differ between skeletonized and non-skeletonized ITA rings. The skeletonized ITA rings appeared over 10 times more sensitive to sodium nitroprusside: pD₂ 6.66±0.20 vs. 5.59±0.37 (P=0.012)—potency ratio 11.61. The maximal responses did not differ significantly: 112.0±6.71 vs. 129.4±16.4% (P=0.33). Conclusions: Skeletonization results in sympathectomy of ITA. It has no effect on endothelium-dependent relaxation but increases reactivity of ITA to norepinephrine. This augmented response to -agonist is small, in comparison with over a ten-fold increase in sensitivity to sodium nitroprusside. Pedicled and skeletonized ITA are functionally significantly different vessels when studied in vitro.

Key Words: Internal thoracic artery • Sympathectomy • Endothelium-dependent relaxation • Endothelium-independent relaxation

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