Effect of chronic hypoxia on pulmonary vascular pressures in isolated lungs of newborn pigs

1994 ◽  
Vol 77 (6) ◽  
pp. 2853-2862 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. D. Fike ◽  
M. R. Kaplowitz

Our purposes were to determine whether chronic alveolar hypoxia altered pulmonary vascular pressures in lungs of newborn pigs, evaluate the contribution of smooth muscle tone to alterations in pulmonary vascular pressures, and examine whether chronic hypoxia altered pulmonary vascular reactivity to acute hypoxia. We kept 24- to 72-h-old pigs in chambers filled with room air (control) or 11–12% O2 (chronic hypoxia) for either 3–5 (short) or 10–12 (long) days. We used isolated lungs and applied micropuncture and vascular occlusion techniques to measure pressure in 10- to 30-microns-diam venules and inflow occlusion and outflow occlusion pressures before and after the addition of the smooth muscle dilator papaverine or before and after inflation of the lungs with a hypoxic gas mixture. For pigs in both the short and long groups, pulmonary arterial pressure was the only vascular pressure that was greater in chronically hypoxic than in control lungs. Increased smooth muscle tone was the primary source of the change in pulmonary arterial pressure with short hypoxia, whereas morphometric changes contributed to the change in pulmonary arterial pressure with long hypoxia. Exposure of newborn pigs to different lengths of alveolar hypoxia is a useful model to study postnatal pulmonary hypertension in newborns and infants.

1989 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 589-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurizio D. Guazzi ◽  
Marco Berti ◽  
Elisabetta Doria ◽  
Cesare Fiorentini ◽  
Claudia Galli ◽  
...  

1. In systemic hypertension the pulmonary vessels show an excessive tone at rest and hyper-react to adrenoceptor stimulation. Alterations in Ca2+ handling by the vascular smooth muscle cells seem to underlie these disorders. Alveolar hypoxia also constricts pulmonary arteries, increasing the intracellular Ca2+ availability for smooth muscle contraction. This suggests the hypothesis that hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction depends on similar biochemical disorders, and that the response to the hypoxic stimulus may be emphasized in high blood pressure. 2. In 21 hypertensive and 10 normotensive men, pulmonary arterial pressure and arteriolar resistance have been evaluated during air respiration and after 15 min of breathing 17, 15 and 12% oxygen in nitrogen. Curves relating changes in pulmonary arterial pressure and arteriolar resistance to the oxygen content of inspired gas had a similar configuration in the two populations, but in hypertension were steeper and significantly shifted to the left of those in normotension, reflecting a lower threshold and an enhanced vasoconstrictor reactivity. 3. This pattern was not related to differences in severity of the hypoxic stimulus, degree of hypocapnia and respiratory alkalosis induced by hypoxia, and plasma catecholamines. 4. The association of high blood pressure with enhanced pulmonary vasoreactivity to alveolar hypoxia could have clinical implications in patients who are chronically hypoxic and have systemic hypertension.


1992 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 552-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. D. Fike ◽  
M. R. Kaplowitz

The purpose of this study was to determine whether pulmonary venous pressure increases during alveolar hypoxia in lungs of newborn pigs. We isolated and perfused with blood the lungs from seven newborn pigs, 6–7 days old. We maintained blood flow constant at 50 ml.min-1.kg-1 and continuously monitored pulmonary arterial and left atrial pressures. Using the micropuncture technique, we measured pressures in 10 to 60-microns-diam venules during inflation with normoxic (21% O2–69–74% N2–5–10% CO2) and hypoxic (90–95% N2–5–10% CO2) gas mixtures. PO2 was 142 +/- 21 Torr during normoxia and 20 +/- 4 Torr during hypoxia. During micropuncture we inflated the lungs to a constant airway pressure of 5 cmH2O and kept left atrial pressure greater than airway pressure (zone 3). During hypoxia, pulmonary arterial pressure increased by 69 +/- 24% and pressure in small venules increased by 40 +/- 23%. These results are similar to those obtained with newborn lambs and ferrets but differ from results with newborn rabbits. The site of hypoxic vasoconstriction in newborn lungs is species dependent.


1982 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 705-709 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. R. Walker ◽  
N. F. Voelkel ◽  
J. T. Reeves

Recent studies have shown that vasodilator prostaglandins are continually produced by the isolated rat lung. We postulated that these vasodilators may contribute to maintenance of normal low pulmonary arterial pressure. Pulmonary pressure and cardiac output were measured in conscious dogs prior to and 30 to 60 min following administration of meclofenamate (2 mg/kg iv, followed by infusion at 2 mg . kg-1 . h-1) or the structurally dissimilar inhibitor RO–20–5720 (1 mg/kg iv, followed by infusion at 1 mg . kg-1 . h-1). The animals were also made hypoxic with inhalation of 10% O2 before and after inhibition. Time-control experiments were conducted in which only the saline vehicle was administered. Meclofenamate or RO–20–5720 caused an increase in mean pulmonary arterial pressure and total pulmonary resistance. Cardiac output and systemic pressure were unaffected. The mild hypoxic pulmonary pressor response observed was not affected by meclofenamate. Animals breathing 30% O2 to offset Denver's altitude also demonstrated increased pulmonary pressure and resistance when given meclofenamate. It is concluded that endogenous vasodilator prostaglandins may contribute to normal, low vascular tone in the pulmonary circulation.


1991 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 1518-1523 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. J. Lamm ◽  
K. R. Kirk ◽  
W. L. Hanson ◽  
W. W. Wagner ◽  
R. K. Albert

We have previously observed flows equivalent to 15% of the resting cardiac output of rabbits occurring through isolated lungs that were completely in zone 1. To distinguish between alveolar corner vessels and alveolar septal vessels as a possible zone 1 pathway, we made in vivo microscopic observations of the subpleural alveolar capillaries in five anesthetized dogs. Videomicroscopic recordings were made via a transparent thoracic window with the animal in the right lateral position. From recordings of the uppermost surface of the left lung, alveolar septal and corner vessels were classified depending on whether they were located within or between alveoli, respectively. Observations were made with various levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) applied only to the left lung via a double-lumen endotracheal tube. Consistent with convention, flow through septal vessels stopped when PEEP was raised to the mean pulmonary arterial pressure (the zone 1-zone 2 border). However, flow through alveolar corner vessels continued until PEEP was 8-16 cmH2O greater than mean pulmonary arterial pressure (8-16 cm into zone 1). These direct observations support the idea that alveolar corner vessels rather than patent septal vessels provide the pathway for blood flow under zone 1 conditions.


1983 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 558-561 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Lindenfeld ◽  
J. T. Reeves ◽  
L. D. Horwitz

In resting conscious dogs, administration of cyclooxygenase inhibitors results in modest increases in pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance, suggesting that vasodilator prostaglandins play a role in maintaining the low vascular resistance in the pulmonary bed. To assess the role of these vasodilator prostaglandins on pulmonary vascular resistance during exercise, we studied seven mongrel dogs at rest and during exercise before and after intravenous meclofenamate (5 mg/kg). Following meclofenamate, pulmonary vascular resistance rose both at rest (250 24 vs. 300 +/- 27 dyn . s . cm-5, P less than 0.01) and with exercise (190 +/- 9 vs. 210 +/- 12 dyn . s . cm-5, P less than 0.05). Systemic vascular resistance rose slightly following meclofenamate both at rest and during exercise. There were no changes in cardiac output. The effects of cyclooxygenase inhibition, although significant, were less during exercise than at rest. This suggests that the normal fall in pulmonary vascular resistance during exercise depends largely on factors other than vasodilator prostaglandins.


1993 ◽  
Vol 264 (1) ◽  
pp. H252-H258 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Braner ◽  
J. R. Fineman ◽  
R. Chang ◽  
S. J. Soifer

To investigate the hypothesis that pulmonary vascular tone and endothelium-dependent pulmonary vasodilation are mediated by changes in the vascular smooth muscle cell concentration of cGMP, we studied the hemodynamic effects of M&B 22948, a selective guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) phosphodiesterase inhibitor, in eight intact newborn lambs. At rest, M&B 22948 (1.0-2.5 mg/kg) selectively decreased pulmonary arterial pressure (by 8.5 +/- 6.6 to 10.3 +/- 4.5%, P < 0.05). Similarly, M&B 22948 (0.5-5.0 mg/kg) produced selective dose-dependent decreases in pulmonary arterial pressure during pulmonary hypertension induced either by U46619 (by 7.7 +/- 4.2 to 44.2 +/- 4.4%, P < 0.05) or by alveolar hypoxia (by 9.5 +/- 6.2 to 29.0 +/- 11.0%, P < 0.05). In addition, M&B 22948 augmented the pulmonary vasodilating effects of acetylcholine and ATP (both endothelium- and cGMP-dependent vasodilators) but not isoproterenol (an endothelium-independent and cAMP-dependent vasodilator). Because M&B 22948 inhibits the breakdown of cGMP, this study supports the in vitro data that changes in the vascular smooth muscle cell concentration of cGMP, in part, may regulate pulmonary vascular tone and mediate endothelium-dependent vasodilator responses in the pulmonary circulation. In addition, N omega-nitro-L-arginine (an inhibitor of endothelium-derived relaxing factor synthesis) blocked the vasodilating effects of M&B 22948, suggesting that the majority of endogenous cGMP is generated by the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor.


1987 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 1562-1568 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Atkinson ◽  
J. W. Olson ◽  
R. J. Altiere ◽  
M. N. Gillespie

This study tested the hypothesis that the polyamines, a family of low-molecular-weight organic cations with documented regulatory roles in cell growth and differentiation, are mediators of chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling. Relative to room air controls, chronically hypoxic animals (inspired O2 fraction = 0.1; 21 days) exhibited higher pulmonary arterial pressures (measured in room air), thicker medial layers in pulmonary arteries of 50–100 microns diam, increased hematocrits, and right ventricular hypertrophy. In addition, lung contents of the polyamines, putrescine, spermidine, and spermine were greater in hypoxic animals than in controls. alpha-Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an inhibitor of polyamine synthesis, attenuated the hypoxia-induced elevations in lung putrescine and spermidine content and blunted the increases in pulmonary arterial pressure and medial thickness. Neither the increased hematocrit nor right ventricular hypertrophy associated with chronic hypoxia were abrogated by DFMO. In addition, DFMO failed to influence vasoconstrictor responses provoked by acute hypoxic ventilation in isolated, buffer-perfused rat lungs. These observations suggest that depression of polyamine biosynthesis with DFMO blunts the sustained increase in pulmonary arterial pressure by attenuating hypoxia-induced medial thickening.


1985 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 812-818 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. N. Hansen ◽  
A. L. Le Blanc ◽  
A. L. Gest

To assess the effects of alveolar hypoxia and angiotensin II infusion on distribution of blood flow to the lung we performed perfusion lung scans on anesthetized mechanically ventilated lambs. Scans were obtained by injecting 1–2 mCi of technetium-labeled albumin macroaggregates as the lambs were ventilated with air, with 10–14% O2 in N2, or with air while receiving angiotensin II intravenously. We found that both alveolar hypoxia and infusion of angiotensin II increased pulmonary vascular resistance and redistributed blood flow from the mid and lower lung regions towards the upper posterior region of the lung. We assessed the effects of angiotensin II infusion on filtration pressure in six lambs by measuring the rate of lung lymph flow and the protein concentration of samples of lung lymph. We found that angiotensin II infusion increased pulmonary arterial pressure 50%, lung lymph flow 90%, and decreased the concentration of protein in lymph relative to plasma. These results are identical to those seen when filtration pressure increases during alveolar hypoxia. We conclude that alveolar hypoxia and angiotensin II infusion both increase fluid filtration in the lung by increasing filtration pressure. The increase in filtration pressure may be the result of a redistribution of blood flow in the lung with relative overperfusion of vessels in some areas and transmission of the elevated pulmonary arterial pressure to fluid-exchanging sites in those vessels.


2000 ◽  
Vol 278 (2) ◽  
pp. H331-H338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry Ooi ◽  
Elaine Cadogan ◽  
Michèle Sweeney ◽  
Katherine Howell ◽  
R. G. O'Regan ◽  
...  

Chronic hypercapnia is commonly found in patients with severe hypoxic lung disease and is associated with a greater elevation of pulmonary arterial pressure than that due to hypoxia alone. We hypothesized that hypercapnia worsens hypoxic pulmonary hypertension by augmenting pulmonary vascular remodeling and hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV). Rats were exposed to chronic hypoxia [inspiratory O2 fraction ([Formula: see text]) = 0.10], chronic hypercapnia (inspiratory CO2 fraction = 0.10), hypoxia-hypercapnia ([Formula: see text]= 0.10, inspiratory CO2 fraction = 0.10), or room air. After 1 and 3 wk of exposure, muscularization of resistance blood vessels and hypoxia-induced hematocrit elevation were significantly inhibited in hypoxia-hypercapnia compared with hypoxia alone ( P < 0.001, ANOVA). Right ventricular hypertrophy was reduced in hypoxia-hypercapnia compared with hypoxia at 3 wk ( P < 0.001, ANOVA). In isolated, ventilated, blood-perfused lungs, basal pulmonary arterial pressure after 1 wk of exposure to hypoxia (20.1 ± 1.8 mmHg) was significantly ( P < 0.01, ANOVA) elevated compared with control conditions (12.1 ± 0.1 mmHg) but was not altered in hypoxia-hypercapnia (13.5 ± 0.9 mmHg) or hypercapnia (11.8 ± 1.3 mmHg). HPV ([Formula: see text] = 0.03) was attenuated in hypoxia, hypoxia-hypercapnia, and hypercapnia compared with control ( P < 0.05, ANOVA). Addition of N ω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (10−4 M), which augmented HPV in control, hypoxia, and hypercapnia, significantly reduced HPV in hypoxia-hypercapnia. Chronic hypoxia caused impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation in isolated pulmonary arteries, but coexistent hypercapnia partially protected against this effect. These findings suggest that coexistent hypercapnia inhibits hypoxia-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular hypertrophy, reduces HPV, and protects against hypoxia-induced impairment of endothelial function.


1984 ◽  
Vol 247 (4) ◽  
pp. H541-H547 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Gottlieb ◽  
M. D. Peake ◽  
J. T. Sylvester

We have previously shown that after exposure to an inspired O2 tension less than 25 Torr, isolated lungs perfused with autologous blood exhibit vasoconstriction followed by dilation. Because adenosine has been implicated as a mediator of hypoxic vasodilation in the systemic circulation and because the concentration of adenosine in the lung has been shown to increase with hypoxia, we tested the hypothesis that adenosine is the mediator of hypoxic pulmonary vasodilation. We first confirmed that adenosine was a vasodilator in isolated lungs of adult male ferrets. Next we added the enzyme adenosine deaminase (ADase), which inactivates adenosine by converting it to inosine, to the perfusate before exposure to one of two levels of hypoxia [inspiratory PO2 (PIO2) 18 or 0 Torr]. In comparison with untreated lungs, the time course of pulmonary arterial pressure at constant flow in lungs treated with ADase (24 mg protein or 6,000 U) was not different; however, when the vessels were constricted at PIO2 25 Torr, ADase prevented vasodilator responses to adenosine administered into either the perfusate or the airways, indicating penetration of active ADase into the interstitium. Unless adenosine released endogenously into the interstitium during hypoxia was somehow protected from the ADase which reached the interstitium, these results indicate that hypoxic pulmonary vasodilation was not mediated by adenosine.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document