Abstract
A method was developed for the assessment of in vitro perfusion of the umbilical cord arteries. a perfusion pressure of 60–80 mmHg gave flow rates ranging from 30 to 40 ml/min per artery. Serotonin, PGF2α and PGE2 were added to the perfusate and tested for vasoactivity. All substances induced a dose-dependent vasoconstriction. Serotonin proved to be the most potent vasoconstrictor. the minimum dose required to induce visible pressure responses was 10–9–10–8M of serotonin and 10–7 M of PGF2α and PGE2. When adding methysergide to the perfusate, the serotonin response was abolished, while the effects of the prostanoids remained unaltered.