title: In vivo attenuation of endothelium-dependent pulmonary vasodilation by methylene blue.
abstract: In vitro evidence suggests that resting pulmonary vascular tone and endothelium-dependent pulmonary vasodilation are mediated by changes in vascular smooth muscle concentrations of guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP). We investigated this hypothesis in vivo in 19 mechanically ventilated intact lambs by determining the hemodynamic effects of methylene blue (a guanylate cyclase inhibitor) and then by comparing the hemodynamic response to five vasodilators during pulmonary hypertension induced by the infusion of U-46619 (a thromboxane A2 mimic) or methylene blue. Methylene blue caused a significant time-dependent increase in pulmonary arterial pressure. During U-46619 infusions, acetylcholine, ATP-MgCl2, sodium nitroprusside, isoproterenol, and 8-bromo-cGMP decreased pulmonary arterial pressure. During methylene blue infusions, the decreases in pulmonary arterial pressure caused by acetylcholine and ATP-MgCl2 (endothelium-dependent vasodilators) and sodium nitroprusside (an endothelium-independent guanylate cyclase-dependent vasodilator) were attenuated by greater than 50%. The decreases in pulmonary arterial pressure caused by isoproterenol and 8-bromo-cGMP (endothelium-independent vasodilators) were unchanged. This study in intact lambs supports the in vitro evidence that changes in vascular smooth muscle cell concentrations of cGMP in part mediate resting pulmonary vascular tone and endothelium-dependent pulmonary vasodilation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco 94143.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Fineman
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Crowley
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Heymann
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Soifer
mesh_terms: D019796:15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid; D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009129:Muscle Tonus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011450:Prostaglandin Endoperoxides, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D012756:Sheep; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011450:Prostaglandin Endoperoxides, Synthetic; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D019796:15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D000109:Acetylcholine; D008751:Methylene Blue