Prostacyclin production of the isolated pulsatingly perfused rat aorta

The abdominal aorta of the rat was isolated and perfused. Pulsations were found to be a prerequisite for prostacyclin production in the isolated aorta. In the pulsatingly perfused aorta, the prostacyclin production decreases rapidly during the first 30 min of perfusion and very slowly between 30 and 120 min. The technique offers a good means of investigating the effects of different agents on prostacyclin production.