Actions of Platelet-Activating Factor on Isolated Feline and Human Cerebral Arteries

Abstract
The effects of platelet-activating factor (PAF) were studied on isolated feline basilar arteries (BAs) and human pial arteries (PAs). PAF contracted the BAs by 67% of the contraction induced by 124 m M K+ and the PAs by 80%. The contraction in BAs was unaffected by both indomethacin and the thromboxane receptor antagonist AH23848. PAF relaxed prostaglandin F-contracted arteries. In BAs 10−6 M PAF reduced the contraction by 17% and in PAs by 47%. The relaxant effects in both arteries were unaffected by indomethacin. In conclusion, PAF can act both as a constrictor and as a dilator of isolated feline and human cerebral arteries. The effects are seemingly unrelated to vascular prostanoid production.

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