The effects of nicotine on PGI2 production by rat aortic endothelium.

The production of prostacyclin by rat aortic rings was measured following administration of nicotine by a single subcutaneous injection and after continuous subcutaneous infusion over 7 days. Single subcutaneous injections of nicotine at 1, 5, 10 or 20 mg/kg had no effect on prostacyclin production by rat aortic rings in comparison with controls. However, aortic rings obtained after 7 days continuous subcutaneous infusion of 0.54 g/ml of nicotine at the rate of 1 microliter per hour produced significantly less prostacyclin than control animals.