Diabetes mellitus induces hyperreactivity of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-induced constriction in human internal thoracic artery and is associated with increase in the membrane protein level of 5-HT2A receptor.

Studies indicate that 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) released from activated platelets in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) induces 5-HT2A receptor-mediated graft spasm. We previously reported that 5-HT-induced constriction of human endothelium-denuded saphenous vein (SV) was significantly augmented in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) than in patients without DM (non-DM), without changes in the levels of the membrane-bound 5-HT2A receptor of their smooth muscle cells. Although the internal thoracic artery (ITA) is the key graft conduit for CABG, the effect of DM on the ITA graft spasm is still unclear. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of DM on 5-HT-induced vasoconstriction and the level of membrane-bound 5-HT2A receptor in ITA grafts. 5-HT-induced constriction of the isolated human endothelial-denuded ITA was significantly higher in patients with DM than in patients without DM. In addition, the level of the 5-HT2A receptor in the membrane fraction of human ITA smooth muscle cells was significantly higher in patients with DM than in those without DM. These results demonstrate that DM is a risk factor for CABG in both venous and arterial conduits, and that it differentially affects the level of the membrane-bound 5-HT2A receptor in the venous and arterial smooth muscle cells.