title: Transient pleural effusion in norepinephrine-stimulated rats.
abstract: Transient pleural effusions occurred in rats receiving continuous intravenous infusion of norepinephrine (NE, 0.1 mg/kg/h). We hypothesized that these pleural effusions result from a NE-induced increase in right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) and total peripheral resistance (TPR). NE was administered over time intervals between 20 min and 72 h. It induced an immediate doubling in RVSP whereas LVSP remained at the control level. TPR increased with a delay of 6 h. At this time, pleural effusions occurred in NE-treated animals, reached their maximum after 8h and disappeared after 24 h of NE stimulation. Combining NE with the alpha-blocker prazosin normalized TPR and prevented pleural effusions. Therefore, we interpret the pleural effusion as a consequence of pulmonary venous congestion, mainly caused by an increased TPR. LV hypertrophy which developed after 24 h of NE stimulation is considered to compensate for the hemodynamic disturbance due to the NE-induced elevation in TPR. This is reflected in the disappearance of pleural effusion.
authors.affiliation: Carl Ludwig Institute of Physiology, University of Leipzig, Germany. rasb@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rassler
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Barth
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Zimmer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000503:physiopathology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011224:Prazosin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D009638:Norepinephrine; D011224:Prazosin