Anti-hypoxic effect of centrally and systemically administered prostacyclin (PGI2)

Prostacyclin (PGI2) induced a dose-dependent prolongation of survival time of mice subjected to hypoxic and anoxic hypoxia, when administered either intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v., 0.001-10 micrograms/mouse), intravenously (i.v., 0.5-500 micrograms/kg) or intraperitoneally (i.p., 50-500 micrograms/kg). The effects of a single dose of 50 micrograms/kg i.v. or i.p. and of 1 microgram/mouse i.c.v. persisted for about 30 min. The anti-hypoxic effect of PGI2 is most likely due to an action upon the CNS.