Responses of pulmonary and systemic circulations of perinatal goats to prostaglandin F2α

1979 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles W. Leffler ◽  
Thom L. Tyler ◽  
Sidney Cassin

The effects of exogenous prostaglandin (PG) F2α, as well as PGF1α and the 15-keto metabolites of both prostaglandins, upon unventilated fetal, premature newborn, and mature newborn goat pulmonary and systemic circulations were examined by infusing the compounds into the pulmonary circulation. PGF2α is a powerful pressor agent in both pulmonary and systemic circulations of fetal and neonatal goats. Broncho–pulmonary constriction was also observed in ventilated animals at infusion rates in excess of the lung's ability to catabolize the prostaglandin. The pressor effects were not attenuated by alpha-adrenergic blockade. PGF1α is qualitatively similar, but quantitatively less, in its effect. The 15-keto metabolites did not alter pulmonary or systemic circulation even at very high doses. The PGF2α threshold dose for increasing pulmonary vascular resistance is lowest in the unventilated fetus, greatest in the premature newborn, and intermediate in the newborn older than 1 day of age. The lower sensitivity of the pulmonary circulation to the exogenous vasoconstrictor in the immediate postventilation period suggests the presence of endogenous dilator activity. Since the increase in pulmonary vascular resistance produced by indomethacin is greatest in the newly ventilated fetus, less in the older newborn, and negligible in the unventilated fetus, the substance(s) responsible for the endogenous dilator activity would appear to require prostaglandin fatty acid cyclooxygenase activity for production.

1965 ◽  
Vol 208 (1) ◽  
pp. 130-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. A. Cropp

The resistance to blood flow in the pulmonary circulation of dogs (PVR) increased when their lungs were ventilated with 95–100% oxygen and were perfused with blood that recirculated only through the pulmonary circulation; the systemic circulation was perfused independently. This increase in PVR occurred even when nerves were cut or blocked but was abolished by inhaled isopropylarterenol aerosol. Elevation of intra-alveolar Po2 without increase in pulmonary arterial blood Po2 was sufficient to increase pulmonary vascular resistance. The pulmonary venules or veins were thought to be the likely site of the constriction. These reactions were qualitatively similar to those produced by injection of serotonin or histamine into the pulmonary circulation. The time course of the response and failure to obtain it when the blood was perfused through the remainder of the body before it re-entered the pulmonary circulation are compatible with a theory that high intra-alveolar O2 tension activates a vasoconstrictor material in the pulmonary parenchyma.


1977 ◽  
Vol 232 (6) ◽  
pp. H671-H675 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Hessler ◽  
S. Cassin

The effects of increased intracranial pressure on the pulmonary circulation were investigated in fetal and neonatal goats. Pulmonary vascular resistance and systemic arterial pressure increased with elevation of intracranial pressure in neonatal animals. Alpha-adrenergic blockade completely eliminated both of these responses. The response of the fetal pulmonary circulation was unlike that seen in the postnatal animal. Although there was a slight elevation of pulmonary vascular resistance initially, the predominant response was a decrease in resistance. The decrease in fetal pulmonary vascular resistance was unaffected by phenoxybenzamine, but reversed by propranolol. After the beta-adrenergic blockade, increased intracranial pressure produced an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance. Similarly, ventilation of fetal lungs resulted in an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance after increased intracranial pressure. These results demonstrate for the first time that pulmonary vascular resistance may be altered in fetal and neonatal animals by increasing intracranial pressure. The elevation of pulmonary vascular resistance after elevated intracranial pressure must be due to an active pulmonary vascular constriction.


1998 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 190-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christophe Adrie ◽  
Mona W. Hirani ◽  
Alexandra Holzmann ◽  
Larry Keefer ◽  
Warren M. Zapol ◽  
...  

Background PROLI/NO (C5H7N3O4Na2 x CH3OH) is an ultrashort-acting nucleophile/NO adduct that generates NO (half-life 2 s at 37 degrees C and pH 7.4). Because of its short half-life, the authors hypothesized that intravenous administration of this compound would selectively dilate the pulmonary vasculature but cause little or no systemic hypotension. Methods In eight awake healthy sheep with pulmonary hypertension induced by 9,11-dideoxy-9alpha,11alpha-methanoepoxy prostaglandin F2alpha, the authors compared PROLI/NO with two reference drugs-inhaled NO, a well-studied selective pulmonary vasodilator, and intravenous sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nonselective vasodilator. Sheep inhaled 10, 20, 40, and 80 parts per million NO or received intravenous infusions of 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 microg x kg-1 x min-1 of SNP or 0.75, 1.5, 3, 6, and 12 microg x kg-1 x min-1 of PROLI/NO. The order of administration of the vasoactive drugs (NO, SNP, PROLI/NO) and their doses were randomized. Results Inhaled NO selectively dilated the pulmonary vasculature. Intravenous SNP induced nonselective vasodilation of the systemic and pulmonary circulation. Intravenous PROLI/NO selectively vasodilated the pulmonary circulation at doses up to 6 microg x kg-1 x min-1, which decreased pulmonary vascular resistance by 63% (P < 0.01) from pulmonary hypertensive baseline values without changing systemic vascular resistance. At 12 microg x kg-1 x min-1, PROLI/NO decreased systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance and pressure. Exhaled NO concentrations were higher during PROLI/NO infusion than during SNP infusion (P < 0.01 with all data pooled). Conclusions The results suggest that PROLI/NO could be a useful intravenous drug to vasodilate the pulmonary circulation selectively.


1998 ◽  
Vol 275 (1) ◽  
pp. H100-H109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan H. Stephenson ◽  
Randy S. Sprague ◽  
Andrew J. Lonigro

We recently reported that canine pulmonary microsomes metabolize arachidonic acid to all four regioisomeric epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EET). 5,6-EET dilates blood vessels in several nonpulmonary vascular beds, often in a cyclooxygenase-dependent manner. The present study was designed to determine whether 5,6-EET can decrease pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in the intact pulmonary circulation. In isolated canine lungs perfused with physiological salt solution, a constant infusion of U-46619 (3.28 ± 0.99 nmol/min) increased PVR 62.1 ± 4.5%. Administration of 5,6-EET (10−5 M) into the perfusate reduced the U-46619-mediated increase in PVR by 23.6 ± 6.1%. These effects of U-46619 and 5,6-EET were limited to changes in resistance solely in the pulmonary venous segment. In contrast, venous as well as arterial segmental resistances were increased in 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-treated lungs. However, in the latter instance, 5,6-EET reduced arterial but not venous segmental resistance. 5,6-EET increased pulmonary PGI2 synthesis from 70.5 ± 18.4 to 675.9 ± 125.4 ng/min. In the presence of indomethacin (10−4 M), 5,6-EET did not increase PGI2 synthesis nor did it decrease U-46619- or 5-HT-mediated increases in PVR. In canine intrapulmonary vessels, 5,6-EET decreased active tension in veins contracted with U-46619. 5,6-EET decreased active tension in arteries but not veins contracted with 5-HT, consistent with results in the perfused lungs. These results demonstrate that 5,6-EET is a vasodilator in the intact pulmonary circulation. Its dilator activity depends on the constrictor agent present, the segmental resistance, and cyclooxygenase activity.


1985 ◽  
Vol 249 (3) ◽  
pp. H570-H576 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. Soifer ◽  
R. D. Loitz ◽  
C. Roman ◽  
M. A. Heymann

The factors responsible for maintaining the normally low pulmonary blood flow and high pulmonary vascular resistance in the fetus are not well understood. Since leukotrienes are potent pulmonary vasoconstrictors in many adult animal species, we determined whether leukotrienes were perhaps involved in the control of the fetal pulmonary circulation by studying the effects of putative leukotriene end organ antagonists in two groups of fetal lambs. In six fetal lambs studied at 130-134 days gestation, FPL 55712 increased pulmonary blood flow by 61% (P less than 0.05) and reduced pulmonary vascular resistance by 45% (P less than 0.05). There was a small increase in heart rate but no changes in pulmonary and systemic arterial pressures and systemic arterial blood gases. In six other fetal lambs studied at 130-140 days gestation, FPL 57231 increased pulmonary blood flow by 580% (P less than 0.05) and decreased pulmonary vascular resistance by 87% (P less than 0.05). Pulmonary and systemic arterial pressures decreased (P less than 0.05), and heart rate increased (P less than 0.05). Leukotriene end organ antagonism significantly increases fetal pulmonary blood flow and decreases pulmonary vascular resistance. Leukotrienes may play a role in the physiological control of the fetal pulmonary circulation.


1980 ◽  
Vol 239 (3) ◽  
pp. H297-H301 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. G. Moore ◽  
J. T. Reeves

Pregnancy decreases systemic vascular reactivity but comparatively little is known about the effects of pregnancy on the pulmonary circulation. Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) during acute hypoxia was lower (P < 0.01) in eight intact anesthetized pregnant dogs compared to the same animals postpartum. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa) and PVR during infusion of prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha were also reduced during pregnancy. Nonpregnant female dogs (n = 5) treated with estrogen (0.001 mg x kg-1 x da-1) for 2 wk had decreased Ppa (P < 0.01) during acute hypoxia compared to control measurements, but PVR was unchanged during hypoxia and PGF2 alpha infusion. Treatment with progesterone in four dogs had no effect on pulmonary vascular reactivity to hypoxia or PGF2 alpha. Inhibition of circulating PG with meclofenamate in four dogs during pregnancy did not appear to restore pulmonary vascular reactivity. Blunted pulmonary vascular reactivity is suggested by the limited data available for women, but is not seen in pregnant cows. We conclude that pregnancy decreases pulmonary as well as systemic vascular reactivity in the dog, but the mechanism is unclear.


1996 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 592-599. ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul F. Lennon ◽  
Paul A. Murray

Background Single lung transplantation has become a viable therapy for treatment of end-stage pulmonary disease. We previously observed that left lung autotransplantation (LLA) results in a chronic increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and enhanced pulmonary vascular reactivity to sympathetic alpha adrenoreceptor activation. The effects of inhalational anesthetics on the pulmonary circulation after lung transplantation have not been investigated. In the current study, the authors tested the hypothesis that isoflurane anesthesia, known to cause systemic vasodilation, would exert a vasodilator influence on the baseline pulmonary circulation after LLA. In addition, they tested the hypothesis that isoflurane anesthesia, known to attenuate the systemic vasoconstrictor response to sympathetic alpha adrenoreceptor agonists, would reduce the magnitude of the pulmonary vasoconstrictor response to sympathetic alpha adrenoreceptor activation after LLA. Methods Left pulmonary vascular pressure-flow (LPQ) plots were generated in chronically instrumented dogs by measuring the pulmonary vascular pressure gradient (pulmonary arterial pressure-left atrial pressure) and left pulmonary blood flow during inflation of a hydraulic occluder implanted around the right main pulmonary artery. Left pulmonary vascular pressure-flow plots were generated in 8 dogs 2-5 weeks after LLA in the conscious and isoflurane-anesthetized states at baseline, after beta adrenoreceptor block with propranolol, and during the cumulative administration of the alpha agonist, phenylephrine. Left pulmonary vascular pressure-flow plots also were generated in eight conscious, sham-operated control dogs at baseline, after beta block, and during phenylephrine administration. Results Compared with conscious control dogs, LLA resulted in a leftward shift (P &lt; 0.01) in the baseline left pulmonary vascular pressure-flow relation, indicating chronic pulmonary vasoconstriction. Despite the enhanced level of pulmonary vasomotor tone after LLA, isoflurane did not exert a vasodilator influence on the baseline left pulmonary vascular pressure-flow relation. The pulmonary vasoconstrictor response to phenylephrine was enhanced (P &lt; 0.01) after LLA compared with the response measured in conscious control dogs. The magnitude of the pulmonary vasoconstrictor response to phenylephrine after LLA was not attenuated during isoflurane anesthesia. Conclusions Isoflurane anesthesia does not exert a vasodilator influence on the pulmonary circulation in the setting of increased pulmonary vascular resistance after LLA. In addition, in contrast to previous studies of the systemic circulation, isoflurane does not attenuate the enhanced pulmonary vasoconstrictor response to sympathetic alpha adrenoreceptor activation after LLA.


2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 1178-1189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denis Chemla ◽  
Edmund M.T. Lau ◽  
Yves Papelier ◽  
Pierre Attal ◽  
Philippe Hervé

Right ventricular adaptation to the increased pulmonary arterial load is a key determinant of outcomes in pulmonary hypertension (PH). Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and total arterial compliance (C) quantify resistive and elastic properties of pulmonary arteries that modulate the steady and pulsatile components of pulmonary arterial load, respectively. PVR is commonly calculated as transpulmonary pressure gradient over pulmonary flow and total arterial compliance as stroke volume over pulmonary arterial pulse pressure (SV/PApp). Assuming that there is an inverse, hyperbolic relationship between PVR and C, recent studies have popularised the concept that their product (RC-time of the pulmonary circulation, in seconds) is “constant” in health and diseases. However, emerging evidence suggests that this concept should be challenged, with shortened RC-times documented in post-capillary PH and normotensive subjects. Furthermore, reported RC-times in the literature have consistently demonstrated significant scatter around the mean. In precapillary PH, the true PVR can be overestimated if one uses the standard PVR equation because the zero-flow pressure may be significantly higher than pulmonary arterial wedge pressure. Furthermore, SV/PApp may also overestimate true C. Further studies are needed to clarify some of the inconsistencies of pulmonary RC-time, as this has major implications for our understanding of the arterial load in diseases of the pulmonary circulation.


1987 ◽  
Vol 253 (4) ◽  
pp. H941-H948 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. H. Abman ◽  
F. J. Accurso ◽  
R. B. Wilkening ◽  
G. Meschia

To determine the effects of duration of hypoxia on fetal pulmonary blood flow and vasoreactivity, we studied the response of the fetal pulmonary vascular bed before, during, and after prolonged (2-h) and more brief (30-min) exposures to acute hypoxia in 19 chronically instrumented unanesthetized fetal lambs. Left pulmonary arterial blood flow was measured by an electromagnetic flow transducer. Fetal PO2 was lowered by delivering 10-12% O2 to the ewe. During 2-h periods of hypoxia left pulmonary arterial blood flow decreased, and main pulmonary arterial and pulmonary vascular resistance increased. The increase in pulmonary vascular resistance was sustained throughout the 2-h period of hypoxia. After the return of the ewe to room air breathing, pulmonary vascular resistance remained elevated for at least 1 h despite the rapid correction of hypoxemia and in the absence of acidemia. In contrast, after 30 min of hypoxia, left pulmonary arterial blood flow, pulmonary arterial pressure, and pulmonary vascular resistance returned to base-line values rapidly with the termination of hypoxia. The persistent pulmonary hypoperfusion after 2 h of hypoxia was attenuated by alpha-adrenergic blockade and was characterized by a blunted vasodilatory response to increases in fetal PO2. When fetal PO2 was elevated during the posthypoxia period in the presence of alpha-blockade, pulmonary blood flow still remained unresponsive to increases in fetal PO2. We conclude that 2-h periods of acute hypoxia can decrease fetal pulmonary vasoreactivity, and we speculate that related mechanisms may contribute to the failure of the normal adaptation of the pulmonary circulation at birth.


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