Effects of age and sex on cerebrovascular function in the rat middle cerebral artery

Table 1 The effects of age and sex on VP-induced vasoconstriction of endothelium-intact pressurized MCA segments

Group	Treatment	Maximal response to VP (% Constriction)	Relative maximal response to VP	Dilator PG	Constrictor PG
MA F	Control	47.7???3.7	?	-	-
	COX-1	20.0???1.6		0	???
	COX-2	33.9???2.4		0	??
MA M	Control	47.6???2.3	?	-	-
	COX-1	41.3???3.1		0	?
	COX-2	41.7???3.2		0	?
RS F	Control	32.1???2.7	?	-	-
	COX-1	44.6???3.7		??	0
	COX-2	27.5???.7		0	0
RS M	Control	45.5???3.0	?	-	-
	COX-1	41.0???4.6		0	0
	COX-2	39.7???2.3		0	0

The effects of age and sex on VP-induced vasoconstriction of endothelium-intact pressurized MCA segments and the relative contributions of constrictor vs. dilator prostanoids in mature multigravid adult (MA, 4?6 months) female (F) (MA F) or age-matched male (M) rats (MA M) and reproductively senescent (RS, 10?12 months) female (F) (RS F) or age-matched male (M) rats (RS M). Vasopressin (VP). Prostaglandin (PG). Treatment reflects either control vascular reactivity or reactivity in the presence of COX-1 (SC560) or COX-2 (NS398) inhibition. Arrows indicate relative differences in response.

ISSN: 2042-6410