Role of prostaglandin F2a in the genesis of experimental cerebral vasospasm

Abstract

✓ An angiographic study of experimental cerebral vasospasm was performed in 40 dogs. Vasospasm was caused by injection of 4 ml of blood or 4 ml of blood mixed with prostaglandin F2a into the chiasmatic cistern. A statistically significant difference (chi-square test, p < 0.01) was found between the incidence of cerebral vasospasm obtained with injection of blood alone (6 out of 18 cases, 33%) and the cerebral vasospasm induced with blood and prostaglandin F2a (12 of 13 cases, 92%). In addition, cerebral vasospasm was obtained with injection of prostaglandin F2a alone, whereas prostaglandin E1 had no such effect. These findings, together with reports in the literature that the brains is rich in prostaglandin F2a which it releases into the CSF, suggest a role of prostaglandin F2a in the genesis of cerebral vasospasm seen clinically.