A new method for removal of vascular endothelium by saponin in isolated porcine coronary artery and rat aorta.

: Saponin was used to remove endothelium in isolated porcine coronary artery strip and rat thoracic aorta ring preparations. Endothelium-dependent relaxations of precontracted vessels induced by bradykinin in porcine coronary artery, and by acetylcholine in rat aorta were completely abolished on treatment with saponin (100 micrograms/ml, 5-10 min). In the porcine vessel, contractile responses to prostaglandin F2 alpha did not change, while in the rat aorta those to norepinephrine even increased. Compared to mechanical removal of endothelium, the method used may be easily standardized, and is especially suited for small resistance vessels.