Our previous experiments have shown that thromboxane A2 is a strong contractor of cerebral arterial smooth muscle strips. The objective of these experiments was to determine if U 46619, a stable thromboxane A2 mimetic, affects the cerebral microcirculation in vivo. Pial arteriole diameter in rabbits and rats was measured with a microscope using the closed cranial window technique. Topical application of 10(-11) to 10(-6) M U 46619 induced dose-dependent arteriole vasoconstriction in both species. In rabbits and rats the maximum vasoconstriction was 9.7 +/- 1.3% (mean +/- SEM) and 14.0 +/- 0.5%, respectively. In rats, 10(-7) and 10(-6) M U 46619 induced intravascular platelet aggregation accompanied by a further decrease in diameter and transient occlusion of the arterioles and venules. U 46619 had no significant effect on rabbit pial arterioles that were predilated by hypercapnia or hypercapnia plus hypoxia. Our data suggest that in animals with a normal vasculature, thromboxane A2 may be a moderate constrictor of cerebral arterioles and that this constrictor effect is prevented by hypercapnia and hypoxia.