Cardiovascular effects of prostaglandin E1 in experimental myocardial infarction

Abstract

The effects of prostaglandin E₁ on systemic and coronary haemodynamics were studied in cats before and after acute coronary artery ligation. Myocardial blood flow was measured using a heat clearance technique. Before coronary artery ligation, PGE₁ caused systemic arterial pressure and peripheral vascular resistance to decrease and heart rate to increase. There was no significant change in the right atrial pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, stroke volume, cardiac output, and external cardiac work. There was an increase in myocardial contractility (dp/dt max) and myocardial blood flow. After coronary artery ligation there were more pronounced decreases in the systemic arterial pressure and vascular resistance, with no increase in myocardial contractility and only slight increase in the blood flow in the ischaemic area of the myocardium.