The effects of indomethacin and PGE2 on vascular reactivity in spontaneously hypertensive rats: possible role of prostaglandins in the pathogenesis of hypertension.

Vascular reactivity was investigated in isolated perfused mesenteric vessels of young and adult SHR and age matched WKY. The primary objective was to investigate whether the difference in vascular reactivity between SHR and WKY would persist if endogenous prostaglandin synthesis was abolished and vascular reactivity restored with fixed exogenous quantities of PGE2. In young rats, when similar concentrations of PGE2 are infused in indomethacin blocked preparations, the difference in vascular reactivity between SHR and WKY is abolished. However, in adult rats the difference persists. It is concluded that enhanced prostaglandin synthesis in hypertension may participate in enhancing vascular reactivity.