Acute effect of tetrandrine pulmonary targeting microspheres on hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of tetrandrine (Tet) pulmonary targeting microspheres on hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and evaluate its selective action on pulmonary circulation.


METHODS
Twenty rats were exposed to hypoxic conditions for 3 weeks. Ten rats were used as normoxic controls. We administered Tet pulmonary targeting microspheres to 10 hypoxic rats and Tet aqueous solution to 10 hypoxic rats and the 10 control rats. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) was measured by a right cardiac catheterization, and mean systemic blood pressure (mSBP) was measured by left femoral catheterization.


RESULTS
Rats exposed to hypoxia developed pulmonary hypertension. The decrease in mPAP in rats treated with Tet pulmonary targeting microspheres was significantly greater than that in rats receiving Tet aqueous solution (P < 0.05), and the effects were longer with Tet pulmonary targeting microspheres. Moreover, Tet pulmonary targeting microspheres, unlike Tet aqueous solution, did not decrease mSBP.


CONCLUSIONS
Tet pulmonary targeting microspheres were more effective than Tet aqueous solution treating hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and acted selectively on the pulmonary circulation.
Cheng
Deyun
D
Department of Internal Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, West China University of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China.
Chen
Wenbin
W
Mo
Xiaoneng
X
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008863:Microspheres; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000470:Alkaloids; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; C009438:tetrandrine