Effects of carpronium chloride on the microvascular blood flow in rat mesentery using intravital videomicroscopy

Carpronium chloride, a hair growth reagent, is known to have a vasodilatory action, but its direct effect on the microcirculation has been known very primitively. This study was aimed to examine its effects on the vascular smooth muscles and blood flow in rat mesenteric arterioles using intravital videomicroscopy. After topically applying carpronium chloride on the microvasculature, we measured changes of diameter and blood flow in the arterioles. During its topical application, arteriolar vasodilation and flow increase were observed, while no change occurred in the mean systemic blood pressure. Our in vivo studies indicated that carpronium chloride achieved dilatation of vascular smooth muscle in the microcirculation.