[Mechanisms of enhanced vascular contractility in experimental animals and humans in atherosclerosis].

Contractile and electrical responses of muscle strips from rabbit aorta to 5-HT and hyper K solution were compared in controls group of rabbits fed a normal diet, and atherosclerotic animals fed 1% cholesterol diet for 12 weeks (atherosclerotic group). A study of vascular responses of human popliteal artery was also carried out. It was shown that smooth muscle cells from arteriosclerotic vessels of both rabbits and human exhibit an increased sensitivity to contractile action of hyperpotassium solution and 5-HT.