title: Neural antagonists modulate pulmonary vascular pressure-flow plots in conscious dogs.
abstract: Multipoint pulmonary vascular pressure-cardiac index (P/Q) plots were constructed in conscious dogs during normoxia by graded constriction of the thoracic inferior vena cava to reduce Q. P/Q plots were generated with the autonomic nervous system (ANS) intact and following total autonomic ganglionic block, cholinergic block, and sympathetic alpha- and beta-adrenergic block alone and in combination. With the ANS intact, the relationship between the pulmonary vascular pressure gradient [pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP)--pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP)] and Q was linear with an extrapolated pressure intercept of 0 mmHg. Total autonomic ganglionic block increased PAP-PCWP over the entire range of Q studied (60-140 ml . min-1 . kg-1). Cholinergic block resulted in a small increase in PAP-PCWP at a Q of 60 ml . min-1 . kg-1, a small decrease in PAP-PCWP at a Q of 140 ml . min-1 . kg-1, but no change in PAP-PCWP over the midrange of Q. Sympathetic beta-adrenergic block increased, and sympathetic alpha-adrenergic block decreased PAP-PCWP over the entire range of Q studied. Combined sympathetic alpha- and beta-adrenergic block also increased PAP-PCWP at each level of Q. Thus the ANS, either directly or via circulating catecholamines, exerts an active regulatory influence on the pulmonary vascular P/Q relationship of intact conscious dogs during normoxia over a wide range of Q. Activation of sympathetic beta-adrenergic receptors results in pulmonary vasodilatation, whereas, alpha-receptor activation results in vasoconstriction. Surprisingly, based on the effects of total autonomic ganglionic block and combined sympathetic alpha- and beta-adrenergic block, the net effect of the ANS on PAP-PCWP/Q during normoxia appears to be pulmonary vasodilatation.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Lodato
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Michael
mesh_terms: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002302:Cardiac Output; D003243:Consciousness; D003250:Constriction; D004285:Dogs; D005725:Ganglia, Autonomic / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009407:Nerve Block; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation; D011669:Pulmonary Wedge Pressure; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists