title: Pulmonary hypertension secondary to left ventricular dysfunction: the role of nitric oxide and endothelin-1 in the control of pulmonary vascular tone.
abstract: 1. Using an in vivo model of pulmonary hypertension (PHT) secondary to left ventricular dysfunction (LVD), the pulmonary arterial response to the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) blocker L-NAME (30 micromol.min(-1) i.v.) and the subsequent responses to cumulatively administered endothelin-1 (ET-1) (0.001 -- 4 nmol.kg(-1) i.v.) or big ET-1 (0.1 -- 2.0 nmol.kg(-1) i.v.) were studied. Additionally, the effect of the non-selective ET-1 receptor antagonist, SB209670, was investigated. 2. Eight weeks after coronary artery ligation or sham operation, rabbits demonstrated increased mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) accompanied by right ventricular hypertrophy. 3. Blockade of NOS caused a greater increase in basal PAP (increased by 7.7 +/- 1.1 mmHg c.f. 3.8 +/- 1.0 mmHg in controls, P<0.05) and uncovered a greater pulmonary pressor response to exogenous ET-1 in rabbits with PHT (increased by 10.2 +/- 2.3 mmHg c.f. 4.9 +/- 1.0 mmHg in controls, P<0.05). 4. Big ET-1 evoked a pulmonary pressor effect, in both groups of rabbits, that was increased following blockade of NOS and was more potent in rabbits with PHT. 5. The non-selective ET-1 receptor antagonist, SB209670, reduced basal PAP (from 16.9 mmHg to 15.9 mmHg, P < 0.05) in rabbits with PHT and blocked the response to ET-1 in the presence of L-NAME. 6. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that basal NO activity masks a pulmonary pressor response to exogenously administered ET-1. An increased responsiveness to ET-1 was shown in the pulmonary arterial bed of rabbits with PHT secondary to LVD, implicating a pathophysiological role for ET-1 in this model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Cardiology, University of Glasgow, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow G31 2ER.
authors.forename: Graeme A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Deuchar
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Docherty
authors.forename: Margaret R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: MacLean
authors.forename: Martin N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Hicks
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016232:Endothelins / Q000494:pharmacology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007189:Indans / Q000494:pharmacology; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B; D014463:Ultrasonography; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
chemical_list: D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1; D016232:Endothelins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007189:Indans; D011498:Protein Precursors; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B; C087551:1H-Indene-2-carboxylic acid, 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-3-(2- (carboxymethoxy)-4-methoxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydro-5-propoxy-, (1S,2R,3S)-; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester