Patent ID: 8852556

Claim:
A method for evaluating the effect of a compound on vasomotor response in vivo, comprising the steps of: a. measuring the baseline diameter of the vessel lumen of a central ear artery (CEA) of a rabbit; b. administering said compound to said rabbit; c. administering a vasoconstrictor to said CEA of said rabbit to pre-constrict the diameter of said vessel after administration of said compound; d. administering a vasodilator to said CEA of said rabbit to increase the diameter of said pre-constricted vessel after administration of said vasoconstrictor; and e. determining the effect of said compound on the diameter of said vessel lumen resulting from steps c and d by measuring the diameter of said vessel lumen of said CEA of said rabbit and comparing said diameter to the baseline diameter of said vessel lumen which is measured in step a, wherein the baseline diameter of said vessel lumen measured in step a and the diameter of said vessel lumen measured in step e are measured noninvasively.