Patent ID: 6184254
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: A61K,G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of screening for a compound that reduces vascular tone via a Ca.sup.2+ receptor of a perivascular sensory nerve comprising:(a) contracting a mesenteric artery freed of endothelial tissue and measuring its arterial tension;(b) contacting the mesenteric resistance artery with a first compound;(c) measuring arterial relaxation of the mesenteric resistance artery after contact with the first compound;(d) repeating step (b) but after pre-treatment of the mesenteric resistance artery with a second compound that blocks Ca.sup.2+ receptor-mediated activity; and(e) comparing the levels of arterial tension in step (a) with the levels in step (c), wherein the first compound reduces vascular tone via Ca.sup.2+ receptor of a perivascular sensory nerve if the level of step (c) is lower than the level of step (a) and if step (d) prevents reduction in arterial tension by the first compound.