[Pathological changes of monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension in miniature pigs].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the pathological changes in the myocardial and pulmonary tissues in miniature pigs with chronic pulmonary hypertension induced by monocrotaline (MCT).


METHODS
Twelve male miniature pigs (weigh 15.0-18.0 kg, aged 4.0-4.5 months) were examined for baseline mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), followed by intraperitoneal injection of 10.0 mg/kg MCT in 10 randomly selected pigs. The mean pulmonary artery pressure at 4 and 8 weeks were determined, and the pathological changes in the myocardial and pulmonary tissues were observed.


RESULTS
The baseline mPAP of normal miniature pigs was 15.19∓0.70 mmHg. At 4 and 8 weeks after MCT injection, the sPAP and dPAP were 19.69∓2.47 mmHg and 25.62∓4.88 mmHg, respectively, and the mPAP increased significantly compared with that of the normal control group (P<0.01). Obvious pathological changes such as pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy were found in the pigs 4 weeks after MCT injection, and at 8 weeks, significant pathological changes occurred including right ventricular fibrosis and thickening of the tunica media of the pulmonary artery.


CONCLUSIONS
MCT can cause pulmonary hypertension in miniature pigs 8 weeks after drug administration, shown as increased pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular remodeling.
First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, China. zhaojin34@163.com
Jin
J
Zhao
Rong
R
Liu
Hongtao
H
Li
Xinfeng
X
Zhang
Baohua
B
Liu
Qinghong
Q
Wu
Yuanxin
Y
Qian
Weiwang
W
Gu
D000818:Animals; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology*; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D016686:Monocrotaline / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature
D016686:Monocrotaline