Dose responses of cerebral arteries of the dog, rabbit, and man to human hemoglobin in vitro

Abstract

Dose responses in vitro of the basilar arteries of the dog, rabbit and man to human Hb are reported. For each species, the response occurred over a range of 109 M to > 105 M Hb. Compared to a maximum serotonin contraction, the relative constriction induced by 105 M Hb was greater in the rabbit than in the dog, which in turn was greater than in man. The comparatively weak response of the human arteries is probably attributable to postmortem changes. [Hb is implicated as a spasmogenic agent in the genesis of cerebral vasospasm.].