Contractile Effects of 5-CT and ET-1 in Cerebral Arteries.

Pharmacological parameters for contractile responses to endothelin-1 (ET-1) and 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT) in basilar arteries (BA), middle cerebral arteries (MCA) or arterial cerebral arteries (ACA) subjected to control (sham) operated or to 2, 10 or 15 minutes of transient forebrain ischemia. Contractile responses were characterized by maximum contractile response (Emax) values, expressed as percentage of 63 mM K+ induced contraction (K+ response), and values of the negative logarithm of the molar concentration that produces half maximum contraction (pEC50). For biphasic concentration-contraction curves, Emax and pEC50 values for each of the two phases are provided. Values are means ± SEM, n = numbers of rats.