title: Attenuation of the pulmonary vascular response to endotoxin by a thromboxane synthesis inhibitor (UK-38485) in unanesthetized sheep.
abstract: Previous studies have documented the phasic pulmonary vascular response to infused Escherichia coli endotoxin in unanesthetized sheep. Cyclooxygenase inhibition attenuates the initial vasoconstrictive phase (phase I) but not the late phase of increased microvascular permeability (phase II). We undertook to selectively inhibit thromboxane A2 synthesis and assess the pulmonary microvascular response to endotoxin. Twelve paired studies were carried out in six sheep prepared with chronic lung lymph fistulas and pressure monitoring catheters. Each sheep received E. coli endotoxin (0.5 microgram/kg) at time 0, both alone (control group) and 1 hr after pretreatment with a thromboxane synthetase inhibitor (UK-38485, 2 mg/kg). The animals were monitored for 1-2 hr prior to and 5 hr following endotoxin infusion to ensure a steady-state baseline and a complete late response. The pairs of studies were done in random order. In the presence of UK-38485, endotoxin caused significantly less pulmonary hypertension and shorter duration of leukopenia and lower lung lymph flow and lymph protein clearance rates than did endotoxin alone. The differences in lymph protein clearance were more pronounced in phase II. These data suggest that both the vasoconstrictive and permeability phases of the pulmonary vascular response to endotoxin may be modified on endogenous thromboxane A2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ogletree
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Brigham
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hammon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004926:Escherichia coli; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008196:Lymph / Q000502:physiology; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D012756:Sheep; D013928:Thromboxane A2 / Q000502:physiology; D013930:Thromboxane-A Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D004731:Endotoxins; D007093:Imidazoles; D011506:Proteins; C039242:dazmegrel; D013928:Thromboxane A2; D013930:Thromboxane-A Synthase