THE ROLE OF PROSTAGLANDIN RECEPTORS IN REGULATING CEREBRAL BLOOD-FLOWIN THE PERINATAL-PERIOD

Prostaglandins exert significant effects on the range of cerebral bloo d flow autoregulation. However, the newborn exhibits a narrow cerebral blood flow autoregulatory range compared to the adult, and this appar ently contributes to the susceptibility of the newborn to major perina tal complications such as intraventricular cerebral haemorrhage. Reduc ed vasoconstriction in response to prostaglandins due to the fewer pro staglandin receptors, especially for PGE(2) (EP) and PGF(2 alpha) (FP) , seems to contribute in part to the narrower range of cerebral blood flow autoregulation in the newborn. Evidence suggests that high levels of prostaglandins in the perinatal period are responsible for the dow n-regulation of neurovascular EP and FP receptors. We review the pharm acology of prostaglandin receptors, in particular PGE(2) and PGF(2 alp ha) receptors, their ontogeny on the neural vasculature, the perinatal regulation of their expression, and how these changes relate to the c ontrol of neural blood flow autoregulation.