title: Effect of simulated microgravity and its associated mechanism on pulmonary circulation in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of Simulated Microgravity and its Associated Mechanism on Pulmonary Circulation in Rats).
  
  
  METHODS
  Rat tail-suspension model was used to simulate the physiological effects of microgravity and changes in pulmonary blood vessel morphology, pulmonary arterial and venous blood pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, pulmonary vasomotoricity, as well as the regulation of pulmonary circulation by cytokines produced and released by the lung of rats were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The walls of pulmonary blood vessels of rats were thickened, and the pulmonary artery was reconstructed with increased pulmonary vascular resistance. The pulmonary blood vessels of rats became more prone to dilation as contractions increased. Rat epithelial Adrenomedulin gene transcription and protein expression were upregulated. The level of basic fibroblast growth Factor of rat was also elevated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings from the present study on rats revealed that the microgravity can affect pulmonary blood vessel structure, pulmonary arterial pressure, and pulmonary blood vessel self-regulation and cytokine production.
authors: Nanlou Respiratory Diseases Department, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
authors: Tian Zhi
authors: TZ
authors: Li
authors: Ming
authors: M
authors: Yuan
authors: Zhen Hong
authors: ZH
authors: Chen
authors: Ying Hua
authors: YH
authors: Guo
authors: Chun Yan
authors: CY
authors: Kang
authors: Jing Yu
authors: JY
authors: Wang
authors: Zhi Li
authors: ZL
authors: Li
authors: De Sheng
authors: de S
authors: Wang
authors: Hui Juan
authors: HJ
authors: Wang
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Yuan
authors: Chang Ting
authors: CT
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006439:Hemodynamics; D008297:Male; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000502:physiology; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014893:Weightlessness
keywords: Changes in pulmonary circulation; Rat; Regulations of pulmonary circulation; Simulated microgravity