Effect of rat common carotid artery occlusion on vascular action of adenosine

Background Adenosine is a purine nucleoside that contributes to regulation of vascular tone in different blood vessels, especially in pathological conditions with ischemia and subsequent hypoxia. Prior studies also suggested that relaxations induced by adenosine could be dependent upon the presence of vascular endothelium and activation of various potassium channels. In regard to the previous facts the aim of this study was to investigate effect of adenosine on isolated rat common carotid artery submitted to occlusion.