title: Catecholamine-induced pulmonary edema and pleural effusion in rats--alpha- and beta-adrenergic effects.
abstract: We investigated the contribution of alpha- and beta-adrenergic pathways to catecholamine-induced pulmonary edema and the role of pleural effusion in preventing alveolar edema. Female Sprague-Dawley rats received continuous intravenous infusion of norepinephrine and of separate alpha- or beta-adrenergic stimulation over 6-24 h. We performed heart catheterization in vivo and excised post mortem lung tissue for histological analysis. Interleukin (IL)-6 and total protein concentrations were determined in serum, pleural fluid (PF) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. alpha-Adrenergic treatment increased right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) and total peripheral resistance (TPR) and caused severe alveolar edema associated with IL-6 activation in serum and diffuse pulmonary inflammation. PF amounts were moderate (0.9+/-0.2 ml). beta-Adrenergic stimulation also increased RVSP but decreased TPR. Interstitial but not alveolar edema and focal inflammation without IL-6 activation developed. Large PF amounts (6.2+/-1.5 ml) occurred which were considered to prevent alveolar edema. We conclude that both alpha- and beta-adrenergic stimulation contribute to pulmonary fluid shifts in rats, but alpha-adrenergic pathways cause more acute and more severe lung injury than beta-adrenergic mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Carl-Ludwig-Institute of Physiology, Liebigstr. 27, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany. rsb@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rassler
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reissig
authors.forename: Wilfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Briest
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tannapfel
authors.forename: Heinz Gerd
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Zimmer
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011506:Proteins; D009638:Norepinephrine