title: Differential effects of prolonged septicemia on isolated pulmonary arteries and veins from sheep.
abstract: Isolated third-order pulmonary arteries and veins from sheep were examined for the effects of septicemia on norepinephrine-induced contractions, nitric oxide (NO)-mediated dilation, and basal cyclic GMP levels. The groups studied were as follows: control sheep (n = 7); sheep given live Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Ps, n = 6) for 48 h; and sheep given NG-mono-methyl-L-arginine during the last 24 h of Ps infusion (Ps-L-NMMA, n = 4). The norepinephrine-induced contractions were significantly greater (p < .05) in arteries from septic (Ps and Ps-L-NMMA) sheep. Basal cyclic GMP levels were similar in all of the arteries. The norepinephrine-induced contractions were significantly depressed (p < .05) in veins from septic (Ps and Ps-L-NMMA) sheep. Basal cyclic GMP levels in veins from Ps sheep were markedly elevated (p < .01). N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) ex vivo decreased cyclic GMP in both arteries and veins. Removal of endothelium enhanced contractions and decreased cyclic GMP in arteries and veins only from control sheep. The results show that septicemia differently affects the pulmonary artery and vein. The enhanced vasoconstriction of the artery is due to decreased endothelium-dependent NO release; the attenuated vasoconstriction of the vein is associated with NO-mediated increased cyclic GMP levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555, USA.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ehardt
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lingnau
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Dehring
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Traber
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Traber
mesh_terms: D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases; D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005098:Exotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000502:physiology*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000473:pathology*; D012756:Sheep; D037521:Virulence Factors; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000097668:Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exotoxin A
chemical_list: D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005098:Exotoxins; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D009638:Norepinephrine; D037521:Virulence Factors; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine; D000097668:Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exotoxin A