Inhibition of cerebrovascular contractile responses by U0126.

Pharmacological parameters for contractile responses elicited by ET-1 and 5-CT in middle cerebral artery (MCA) and anterior cerebral artery (ACA) 3 days after surgery in sham-operated rats and ischemia-induced rats treated with either U0126 or vehicle. The contractile response curves were characterized by maximum contractile response (Emax1 and Emax2) values, expressed as percentage of 63.5 mM K+ induced contraction (K+ response), and values for the negative logarithm of the molar concentration that produces half maximum contraction (pEC50), for each of the two phases respectively. Values are means ± SEM, n = numbers of rats. * indicates significant differences from vehicle (ischemia + vehicle treatment) and # indicates significant differences from sham (sham-operated), determined by Student’s t test comparing (Emax) values between two groups.