Effect of alpha-methyldopa on the pulmonary vascular changes induced by chronic hypoxia in rats.
1. Groups of young rats were kept in a hypoxic chamber or in air as control animals for 28 days. 2. Hypoxic and control animals were treated with either alpha-methyl-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (alpha-methyldopa) or distilled water. 3. alpha-Methyldopa significantly reduced the increase in pulmonary artery pressure and right ventricular hypertrophy induced by chronic hypoxia and partially prevented the histological changes in the small pulmonary vessels.
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000517:prevention & control; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000517:prevention & control; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008750:Methyldopa / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats
D008750:Methyldopa