Increased cerebral endothelium-dependent vasodilation in rats in the postcardiac arrest period.

Cardiovascular lability is common after cardiac arrest. We investigated whether altered endothelial function is present in cerebral and mesenteric arteries 2 and 4 h after resuscitation. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized, intubated, ventilated, and intravascularly catheterized whereupon rats were randomized into four groups.