The role of prostaglandins in the bronchoconstriction induced by pulmonary micro-embolism in the guinea-pig.
1. Respiratory resistance was measured by a forced oscillation technique in vagotomized guinea-pigs before and after pulmonary micro-embolism produced by I.V. injection of 0.5 ml./kg of 10% w/v BaSO4. Changes in quasi-static inspiratory compliance and arterial platelet count were also measured. 2. Micro-embolic challenge with BaSO4 increased respiratory resistance by 27%; this was abolished by prior treatment with indomethacin; no change in the control resistance occurred after indomethacin. 3. No change in respiratory compliance or arterial platelet numbers were observed following low dose BaSO4 micro-embolism. This suggests that pulmonary micro-embolism produced a decrease in medium or large airway calibre, which was mediated by a prostaglandin-like substance from lung tissue, and did not require the presence of the vagus nerves.
D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008170:Lung Compliance; D008297:Male; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000502:physiology*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014628:Vagotomy
D011453:Prostaglandins; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D007213:Indomethacin