Role of prostaglandin F2a in the genesis of experimental cerebral vasospasm

✓ 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 F 2 a 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 F 2 a (12 of 13 cases, 92%). In addition, cerebral vasospasm was obtained with injection of prostaglandin F 2 a alone, whereas prostaglandin E 1 had no such effect. These findings, together with reports in the literature that the brains is rich in prostaglandin F 2 a which it releases into the CSF, suggest a role of prostaglandin F 2 a in the genesis of cerebral vasospasm seen clinically.