Differential effects of ethanol on prostaglandin responses of arterial and venous smooth muscles.

The present results, using isolated rat aortic strips and portal vein segments, demonstrate that ethanol, depending upon concentration, can either enhance or attenuate the contractile actions of PGF2alpha on at least 2 different types of vascular smooth muscle. At the very least, the present findings question that the use of ethanol as a solvent when investigating the contractile actions of PG molecules on smooth muscles.