Comparative Study of Prostaglandin I 2 and Prostaglandin E 2 on Hemodynamics in Pregnant Dogs

Effects of intravenous injections of prostaglandin I 2 (PGI 2 ) and prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) on mean arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac output (CO), heart rate (HR), renal blood flow (RBF), and uterine blood flow (UBF) were investigated in the pregnant dog. A dose‐dependent fall in MAP was observed with PGI 2 and PGE 2 (PGI 2 >PGE 2 ). HR was almost unchanged by both prostaglandins. PGI 2 and PGE 2 produced increases in CO and RBF in a dose‐dependent manner (PGI 2 >PGE 2 ). PGI 2 caused a dose‐dependent decrease in UBF, while PGE 2 caused an increase in UBF during the period without concomitant increase in intrauterine pressure (IUP) and a decrease in UBF during the period with concomitant increase in IUP. The possibility of treatment of pregnancy‐induced hypertension with PGI 2 or PGE 2 is discussed.