Cerebral Arteriolar Damage by Arachidonic Acid and Prostaglandin G 2

Application of arachidonic acid or prostaglandin G 2 to the brain surface of anesthetized cats induced cerebral arteriolar damage. Scavengers of free oxygen radicals inhibited this damage. Prostaglandin H 2 , prostaglandin E 2 , and 11,14,17-eicosatrienoic acid did not produce arteriolar damage. It appears that increased prostaglandin synthesis produces cerebral vascular damage by generating free oxygen radicals.