Effects of beraprost sodium and prostaglandin E(1) skin blood flow in diabetic rats and normal dogs

1. The present study was undertaken to compare the effects of beraprost 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 femoral arterial blood flow than BPS. However, BPS significantly increased in step skin blood flow than PGE(1). 4. The above data suggest that BPS may be clinically useful for the treatment of circulatory insufficiency of lower extremities in diabetic patients.