Responsiveness to vasoconstrictor and dilator agents of senescent beagle cerebral arteries.

With advancing age from 2 to 12 years, contractions of isolated beagle cerebral arteries mediated by histamine H1 and serotonin receptors increased, whereas those induced by noradrenaline and angiotensin II did not differ. Relaxations by vasodilator substances, such as prostaglandin (PG) I2, isoproterenol, adenosine and K+ (5 mM), and by stimulation of vasodilator nerves in the adult and senescent beagle arteries did not significantly differ.