1. Minimally invasive saphenous vein harvesting: effects on endothelial and smooth muscle function 
Edward A. Black, Tomasz J. Guzik, MD, Nick E.J. West, Karen Campbell, RN, Ravi Pillai, Chandi Ratnatunga, Keith M. Channon, MD 
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 
Volume 71, Issue 5, Pages (May 2001)
DOI: /S (01)
Copyright © 2001 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions

2. Fig 1
Vasoconstriction of saphenous vein rings harvested using minimally invasive (Minimal) and traditional (Open) harvest techniques. Rings of saphenous vein from both groups were mounted in an organ bath to measure isometric tension. (A) Dose–response curves for phenylephrine (PE); tension is expressed as percent of maximum tension generated from 60 mmol/L potassium chloride (KCl). (B) Maximum tension generated to 60 mmol/L KCl and 10−4 mol/L PE.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /S (01) )
Copyright © 2001 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions

3. Fig 2
Endothelial-dependent and endothelial-independent vasorelaxation in saphenous vein rings harvested using minimally invasive (Minimal) and traditional (Open) harvest techniques. Human saphenous vein rings were mounted in an organ bath for isometric tension measurements. Rings were initially precontracted with 10−6 mmol/L phenylephrine. After reaching a stable tension, they were relaxed with endothelial-dependent and endothelial-independent agonists: acetylcholine (ACh), bradykinin (BK), calcium ionophore (A23187), and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Percent of this precontracted tension is plotted against dose of agonist.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /S (01) )
Copyright © 2001 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions

4. Fig 3
Increase in ring tension after addition of n-nitro-l-arginine. Saphenous vein rings were mounted in an organ bath as described. After submaximal precontraction with 3 × 10−6 mol/L phenylephrine, 1 mmol/L n-nitro-l-arginine was added to the organ bath chambers. Increases in tension occurred as basal nitric oxide production stopped. Tension is expressed as percent of precontraction tension. Tension in the minimal group increased to 127% of precontracted tension and tension in the traditional group, to 133%.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /S (01) )
Copyright © 2001 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions