Vasodilator
Encyclopedia : V : VA : VAS : Vasodilator
Vasodilation is where blood vessels in the body become wider following the relaxation of the smooth muscle in the vessel wall. This will reduce blood pressure - since there is more room for the blood. The opposite physiological process is vasoconstriction.
Vasomotor refers to the muscles and nerves controlling the process of vasodilation.
A vasodilator is a substance that causes vasodilation. Several vasodilators are used as drugs which may, for example, allow blood to flow more easily around a clot.
Flushing may be a physiological response to vasodilators.
Natural vasodilators and Drugs that Exploit Them
- Absence of high levels of environmental noise
- Adenosine
- * Adenocard - this is primarily used as an anti-arrhythmic.
- Adrenaline and noradrenaline vasodilate arterioles of the skeletal muscles. (By acting on beta-2 adrenergic receptors.) These chemicals cause vasoconstriction elsewhere.
- * Alpha blockers (block the constricting effect of adrenaline).
- Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) - a weak vasodilator.
- Bradykinin
- Histamine
- * Complement proteins C3a, C4a and C5a work by triggering histamine release from mast cells and basophil granulocytes.
- L-Arginine
- Niacin (aka nicotinic acid)
- Nitric oxide
- * Glyceryl trinitrate (commonly known as Nitroglycerin)
- * Isosorbide mononitrate & Isosorbide dinitrate
- * Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN)
- * Sodium nitroprusside
- * PDE5 inhibitors: these agents indirectly increase the effects of nitric oxide
- ** Sildenafil
- ** Tadalafil
- ** Vardenafil
- Platelet activating factor (PAF)
- Prostacyclin (PGI2) as well as other prostaglandins.
- Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - the major active chemical in marijuana. Its mild vasodilating effects redden the eyes of cannabis smokers.
- Papaverine an alkaloid found in the opium poppy papaver somniferum
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