Permissive role of prostacyclin in cerebral vasodilation to hypercapnia in newborn pigs

The hypothesis that prostacyclin can allow, but may not directly produce, cerebral vasodilation to hypercapnia was examined in chloralose-anesthetized piglets that were equipped with closed cranial windows for measurements of pial arteriolar diameters. The data indicate that prostacyclin can allow hypercapnic vasodilation to occur, but increasing levels do not appear to be necessary to cause the dilation directly.