title: Pulmonary microvascular responses to arachidonic acid in isolated perfused guinea pig lung.
abstract: We examined the effects of arachidonic acid (AA) on pulmonary hemodynamics and fluid balance in Ringer- and blood-perfused guinea pig lungs during constant-flow conditions. Mean pulmonary arterial (Ppa), venous (Pv), and capillary pressures (Pcap, estimated by the double-occlusion method) were measured, and arterial (Ra) and venous resistances (Rv) were calculated. Bolus AA injection (500 micrograms) caused transient increases (peak response 1 min post-AA) in Ppa, Pcap, and Rv without affecting Ra in both Ringer- and blood-perfused lungs. The response was sustained in blood-perfused lungs. AA had no effect on the capillary filtration coefficient in either Ringer- or blood-perfused lungs. AA stimulated the release of thromboxane B2 and 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha in both Ringer- and blood-perfused lungs, but the responses were sustained only in the blood-perfused lungs. Meclofenamate (1.5 X 10(-4) M), a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, abolished the AA-induced pulmonary hemodynamic responses in both Ringer- and blood-perfused lungs, whereas U-60257 (10 microM), a lipoxygenase inhibitor, attenuated the response only in the blood-perfused lungs. In conclusion, AA does not alter pulmonary vascular permeability to water in either Ringer- or blood-perfused lungs. AA mediates pulmonary venoconstriction and thus contributes to the rise in Pcap. The venoconstriction results from the generation of cyclooxygenase-derived metabolites from lung parenchymal cells and blood-formed elements. Lipoxygenase metabolites may also contribute to the vasoconstriction in the blood-perfused lungs.
mesh_terms: D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008168:Lung; D008469:Meclofenamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010477:Perfusion; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013929:Thromboxane B2 / Q000378:metabolism; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D008469:Meclofenamic Acid; D013929:Thromboxane B2; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; D011464:Epoprostenol; C035296:piriprost