Some cardiovascular properties of prostacyclin (PGI2) which are not shared by PGE2

Abstract

The authors have compared some cardiovascular actions of prostacyclin (PGI2) and PGE2 in chloralose-anesthetized dogs. In mesenteric and femoral vascular beds perfused with arterial blood at constant flow, close intra-arterial injection of PGI2 (0.02-2 μg) and PGE2 (0.01-10 μg) induced vasodilation. PGI2 was equally active in both vascular beds, but PGE2 was more potent in the femoral and less so in the mesenteric bed. 6-oxo-PGF1α (up to 100 μg) was inactive in these vascular beds. Although PGI2 relaxes and PGE2 contracts isolated strips of dog (and bovine and human) coronary arteries, local injection of both PGI2 (0.05-10 μg) and PGE2 (0.5-2.0 μg) into the circumflex artery increased mean c..