EFFECTS OF BERAPROST SODIUM AND PROSTAGLANDIN E(1) SKIN BLOOD-FLOW INDIABETIC RATS AND NORMAL DOGS

1. The present study was undertaken to compare the effects of berapros t sodium (BPS), a stable prostaglandin I-2 analog, with prostaglandin E(1) (PGE(1)) on the skin blood flow in anesthesized diabetic rats and anesthetized dogs. 2. In anesthetized diabetic rats, BPS, but not PGE (1), caused a dose dependent and significant increase in femoral skin blood flow. 3. In anesthetized dogs, PGE(1) significantly increased fe moral arterial blood flow than BPS. However, BPS significantly increas ed in step skin blood flow than PGE(1). 4. The above data suggest that BPS may be clinically useful for the treatment of circulatory insuffi ciency of lower extremities in diabetic patients.