Studies on the effects of prostaglandins E1, E2, A1, and A2 on the dustus arteriosus of swine in vivo using cineangiography.

Prostaglandins E1, E2, A1, and A2 have been shown by cineaortography to open and dilate the ductus arteriosus in anesthetised piglets 3 to 6 hours of age. The dosage of PGEs required was 1 to 4 mug/kg/min. and of PGAs 20 to 40 mug/kg/min. The effect of PGEs faded within 20 minutes of stopping infusion but the effect of PGAs was still evident up to 45 minutes after stopping the infusion. Little effect was noted from hypoxia or from the addition of indomethacin to prostaglandin infusion. Side effects were not troublesome with the dosage employed but hypotension and apnea sometimes occurred at the onset of PGE infusions.