Effects of pentobarbital on contractile responses of feline cerebral arteries

The effects of pentobarbital on the contractile responses of isolated feline middle cerebral arteries have been examined. In the presence of pentobarbital (3 x 10(-4)M), the maximum contractions effected by potassium, noradrenaline, and prostaglandin F2 alpha were reduced by 37 +/- 3, 69 +/- 3, and 10 +/- 6%, respectively. The results caution against the use of pentobarbital as an anaesthetic agent in investigations of cerebrovascular reactivity.