Vasoconstrictor effect of acetylcholine in veins of the liver.

Intraportal acetylcholine administered to narcotized rats produced atropine-resistant constriction of hepatic veins, which was considerably prevented by phentolamine. Sodium nitroprusside produced a vasodilator effect. Similar results were obtained on isolated venous strip from the portal vein: acetylcholine-induced contraction was reduced by 25-50% in the presence of nicotinic receptor antagonist tubocurarine and cholinergic agonist nicotine and by 10% in the presence of tetrodotoxin. Probably, acetylcholine stimulates synthesis and release of a vasoconstrictor transmitter via nicotinic receptors of endothelial cells and/or portal vascular wall nerve terminals.