Pulmonary vascular resistance in adult rats exposed to hypoxia in the neonatal period

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 419-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. S. Hakim ◽  
J. P. Mortola

Newborn rats were exposed to hypoxia (10% O2 + N2) from 24 h to day 6 of neonatal life and then returned to room air until 45 days of age (experimental). The rats were anaesthetized, heparinized, and exsanguinated. The chest was opened and the lungs were perfused with diluted autologous blood at a constant flow rate (Q). The pulmonary arterial pressure (Pa) and venous pressure (Pv) were monitored. The properties of the pulmonary vasculature were assessed by measuring baseline vascular resistance, PVR = (Pa−Pv)/Q, segmental pressure gradients (double occlusion technique), pressure–flow relationship, hypoxic pressor response (HPR, 3% O2), and the response to 0.5 μg bolus of angiotensin II (AII). These were compared with similar measurements on age-matched control animals never exposed to hypoxia. The perfusate hematocrit and gases were not significantly different between the two groups. The PVR normalized to body weight was 30% higher in the experimental groups (p < 0.005). The double occlusion results (obtained at a flow rate of 13 mL/min) revealed that this increase in resistance was primarily due to the increase in the postcapillary resistance. HPR was primarily in the upstream segment in both groups but was larger in the experimental group. In contrast, the response to AII occurred in both the upstream as well as in the downstream vascular segments and did not differ between the two groups. We conclude that adult rats exposed to hypoxia in the neonatal period have elevated pulmonary vascular resistance and increased vascular reactivity to hypoxia.Key words: resistance, angiotensin, lung development, pulmonary hypertension.

2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (5) ◽  
pp. L888-L895 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott A. Barman

The current study was done to test the hypothesis that protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors prevent the increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and compliance that occurs in isolated, blood-perfused dog lungs during hypoxia. Pulmonary vascular resistances and compliances were measured with vascular occlusion techniques. Hypoxia significantly increased pulmonary arterial resistance, pulmonary venous resistance, and pulmonary capillary pressure and decreased total vascular compliance by decreasing both microvascular and large-vessel compliances. The nonspecific PKC inhibitor staurosporine (10−7 M), the specific PKC blocker calphostin C (10−7 M), and the specific PKC isozyme blocker Gö-6976 (10−7 M) inhibited the effect of hypoxia on pulmonary vascular resistance and compliance. In addition, the PKC activator thymeleatoxin (THX; 10−7 M) increased pulmonary vascular resistance and compliance in a manner similar to that in hypoxia, and the L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+channel blocker nifedipine (10−6 M) inhibited the response to both THX and hypoxia. These results suggest that PKC inhibition blocks the hypoxic pressor response and that the pharmacological activation of PKC by THX mimics the hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstrictor response. In addition, L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+channel blockade may prevent the onset of the hypoxia- and PKC-induced vasoconstrictor response in the canine pulmonary vasculature.


1979 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 184-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. G. Moore ◽  
J. T. Reeves ◽  
D. H. Will ◽  
R. F. Grover

Observations in several species suggest that pulmonary vascular reactivity may be reduced during pregnancy. We tested this hypothesis in two groups of unanesthetized cows, one “susceptible” and one “resistant” to high mountain or brisket disease. At the altitude of residence (1,524 m), mean pulmonary arterial pressure was elevated during pregnancy by 18% and total pulmonary vascular resistance by 32% in susceptible but not in resistant cows. During acute exposure to simulated altitudes of 2,120--4,550 m, pulmonary arterial pressure was increased by 16% and total pulmonary resistance by 28% during pregnancy in susceptible cows. The pulmonary pressor response to a 5 microgram/kg bolus of prostaglandin FIalpha was not different during pregnancy in either group. Resistant cows hyperventilated while pregnant, raising arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) by 6 Torr both at 1,524 m and, on the average, by 7 Torr at altitudes of 2,120--4,550 m. Susceptible cows increased their PaO2 less than did the resistant cows during pregnancy. The results indicated that pregnancy was associated with a greater rise in pulmonary arterial pressure and total pulmonary vascular resistance during acute hypoxia and failed to elicit as great a ventilatory response in susceptible than in resistant cows.


1994 ◽  
Vol 267 (1) ◽  
pp. H363-H369 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. S. Hakim

Pulsatile flow is thought to lower pulmonary vascular resistance by passive recruitment of capillaries and by active vasodilation. This study was undertaken to investigate the role of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) during pulsatile flow in isolated canine left lower lobes pretreated with indomethacin. The lobes were perfused in situ with autologous blood (approximately 500 ml/min) using a nonpulsatile pump (Masterflex) or a pulsatile pump (Harvard). With the occlusion techniques, vascular resistance was partitioned into four segments: arterial (Ra), small arterial (R'a), small venous, and venous (Rv). Pulsatile flow (frequency = 70 min-1) did not lower total vascular resistance during baseline or during vasoconstriction. Distribution of vascular resistance among the four segments was not altered significantly by pulsatile flow during normoxia and angiotensin. In contrast, switching to pulsatile flow during hypoxia was associated with an increase in Ra and a decrease in R'a and Rv. N omega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) had no effect on total or segmental resistance during baseline conditions but potentiated the hypoxic pressor response and prevented its recovery by 50%. In addition, the reduction in R'a by pulsatile flow was attenuated by L-NNA, suggesting that EDRF is released by pulsatile flow in this segment. We conclude that a shear stress-induced EDRF release from the small arteries is present in canine lungs and is experimentally demonstrable during pulsatile flow and hypoxia.


2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 209
Author(s):  
Wouter Jacobs ◽  
Anton Vonk-Noordegraaf ◽  
◽  

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a progressive disease of the pulmonary vasculature, ultimately leading to right heart failure and death. Current treatment is aimed at targeting three different pathways: the prostacyclin, endothelin and nitric oxide pathways. These therapies improve functional class, increase exercise capacity and improve haemodynamics. In addition, data from a meta-analysis provide compelling evidence of improved survival. Despite these treatments, the outcome is still grim and the cause of death is inevitable – right ventricular failure. One explanation for this paradox of haemodynamic benefit and still worse outcome is that the right ventricle does not benefit from a modest reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance. This article describes the physiological concepts that might underlie this paradox. Based on these concepts, we argue that not only a significant reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance, but also a significant reduction in pulmonary artery pressure is required to save the right ventricle. Haemodynamic data from clinical trials hold the promise that these haemodynamic requirements might be met if upfront combination therapy is used.


1982 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 1110-1115 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. S. Hakim ◽  
R. P. Michel ◽  
H. K. Chang

To explain the changes in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) with positive- and negative-pressure inflation (PPI and NPI, respectively), we studied their effects in isolated canine left lower lobes perfused at constant flow rate. The venous pressure was kept constant relative to atmospheric pressure during lung inflation. The total arteriovenous pressure drop (delta Pt) was partitioned with the arterial and venous occlusion technique into pressure drops across arterial and venous segments (large indistensible extra-alveolar vessels) and a middle segment (small distensible extra-alveolar and alveolar vessels). PPI caused a curvilinear increase in delta Pt due to a large Starling resistance effect in the alveolar vessels associated with a small volume-dependent increase in the resistance of alveolar and extra-alveolar vessels. NPI caused an initial decrease in delta Pt due to reduction in the resistance of extra-alveolar vessels followed by an increase in delta Pt due to a volume-dependent increase in the resistance of all vessels. In conclusion, we provided for the first time evidence that lung inflation results in a volume-dependent increase in the resistance of both alveolar and extra-alveolar vessels. The data suggest that while the volume-related changes in PVR are identical with PPI and NPI, there are pressure-related changes that can be different between the two modes of inflation.


1993 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 733-741 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Nishiwaki ◽  
D. P. Nyhan ◽  
R. S. Stuart ◽  
P. M. Desai ◽  
W. P. Peterson ◽  
...  

We investigated the extent to which sympathetic alpha 1-adrenoreceptor activation is involved in chronic pulmonary vascular regulation in conscious dogs after left lung autotransplantation (LLA). Continuous left pulmonary vascular pressure-flow plots were generated in conscious dogs 3–4 wk post-LLA and in identically instrumented conscious dogs not subjected to LLA (sham-operated controls). LLA resulted in a marked upward shift in the baseline left pulmonary vascular pressure-flow relationship compared with the control group (P < 0.01), i.e., LLA caused a chronic increase in pulmonary vascular resistance. The sympathetic alpha 1-adrenoreceptor antagonist prazosin partially reversed (P < 0.01) the LLA-induced increase in pulmonary vascular resistance. Circulating concentrations of norepinephrine and epinephrine at 2 and 4 wk post-LLA were not significantly different from values measured in control dogs. However, the dose-response relationship to the exogenous administration of the sympathetic alpha 1-adrenoreceptor agonist phenylephrine was shifted (P < 0.05) to the left post-LLA compared with control, which indicates an increase in pulmonary vascular reactivity to alpha 1-adrenoreceptor activation. This effect was not due to a generalized increase in pulmonary vascular reactivity to vasoconstrictor stimuli because the dose-response relationship to the thromboxane analogue U-46619 was not significantly altered post-LLA compared with control. Thus LLA results in a chronic increase in pulmonary vascular resistance in conscious dogs. A component of the increase in pulmonary vascular resistance resulting from LLA is mediated by an enhanced reactivity to sympathetic alpha 1-adrenoreceptor activation.


1998 ◽  
Vol 275 (5) ◽  
pp. L931-L941 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly A. Hanson ◽  
James W. Ziegler ◽  
Sergei D. Rybalkin ◽  
Jim W. Miller ◽  
Steven H. Abman ◽  
...  

An experimental ovine fetal model for perinatal pulmonary hypertension of the neonate (PPHN) was characterized by altered pulmonary vasoreactivity and structure. Because past studies had suggested impaired nitric oxide-cGMP cascade in this experimental model, we hypothesized that elevated phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity may contribute to altered vascular reactivity and structure in experimental PPHN. Therefore, we studied the effects of the PDE inhibitors zaprinast and dipyridamole on fetal pulmonary vascular resistance and PDE5 activity, protein, mRNA, and localization in normal and pulmonary hypertensive fetal lambs. Infusion of dipyridamole and zaprinast lowered pulmonary vascular resistance by 55 and 35%, respectively, in hypertensive animals. In comparison with control animals, lung cGMP PDE activity was elevated in hypertensive fetal lambs (150%). Increased PDE5 activity was not associated with either an increased PDE5 protein or mRNA level. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated that PDE5 was localized to vascular smooth muscle. We concluded that PDE5 activity was increased in experimental PPHN, possibly by posttranslational phosphorylation. We speculated that these increases in cGMP PDE activity contributed to altered pulmonary vasoreactivity in experimental perinatal pulmonary hypertension.


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 &lt; 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 &lt; 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.


1999 ◽  
Vol 27 (9) ◽  
pp. 1838-1842 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo A. Moreira ◽  
Denise C. O'Donnell ◽  
Mary L. Tod ◽  
Jane A. Madden ◽  
John B. Gordon

1982 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 710-715 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. S. Hakim ◽  
R. P. Michel ◽  
H. K. Chang

We perfused in situ isolated left lower lung lobes at a steady flow rate in zone 3 condition. When the lobar arterial inflow was suddenly occluded, the arterial pressure (Pa) fell rapidly and then more slowly. When the lobar venous outflow was suddenly occluded, the venous pressure (Pv) rose rapidly and then continued to rise more slowly. The rapid changes in Pa and Pv with inflow and outflow occlusion, respectively, represent the pressure drops across the arterial (delta Pa) and venous (delta Pv) relatively indistensible vessels. The total arteriovenous pressure difference (delta Pt) minus delta Pa + delta Pv gives the pressure drop across the vessels in the middle (delta Pm) that are much more distensible. Serotonin and histamine infusion increased delta Pa and delta Pv, respectively, but left delta Pm unchanged. delta Pa and delta Pv, but not delta Pm, increased as flow rate was increased. The studies with varying flow rate and venous pressures suggested that the arteries and veins became resistant to distension when their transmural pressures exceeded 10--5 Torr, respectively. Under the conditions studied, the middle nonmuscular segment contributed a major fraction of the vascular compliance and less than 16% of the total resistance. The muscular arteries and veins contributed equally to the remaining resistance. We conclude that the arterial and venous occlusion method is a useful technique to describe the resistance and compliance of different segments of the pulmonary vasculature.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document