Partial reversal of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension by heparin.

Chronic hypoxia produces pulmonary hypertension and an increase in medial thickness of pulmonary arteries that reach maximal values after 10 days of hypoxia. We previously showed that heparin given during the first 10 days of hypoxia reduced the development of both pulmonary hypertension and vascular remodeling in the guinea pig. To determine if heparin could reverse established hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and vascular remodeling, we administered heparin by continuous subcutaneous infusion (20 U/kg/h) for the last 7 days of a 21-day exposure to hypoxia (10% O2, balance N2) and compared these animals with normal saline-infused hypoxic control and room air-exposed animals. Hypoxia increased pulmonary artery pressure from 11 +/- 1 mm Hg (mean +/- SEM) in room air animals to 20 +/- 2 mm Hg (p less than 0.05) in saline-treated hypoxic control animals. Heparin reduced pulmonary artery pressure to 16 +/- 1 mm Hg (p less than 0.05 versus hypoxic control and room air control animals). Total pulmonary resistance (TPR) increased with hypoxia from 0.043 +/- 0.003 mm Hg x min x kg-1 x ml-1 in room air to 0.090 +/- 0.004 in hypoxia (p less than 0.05), and in the rise in TPR was also partially reversed by heparin to 0.068 +/- 0.0003 (p less than 0.05). The percentage of medial thickness of alveolar duct arteries increased from 5.8 +/- 0.6% in room air to 9.5 +/- 0.1% (p less than 0.05) after 3 wk of hypoxia, and heparin therapy partially reversed the increase in medial thickness to 7.2 +/- 0.7% (p less than 0.05 versus both hypoxia control and room air).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

骨形成蛋白在低氧性肺动脉高压发病中的作用

目的观察低氧性肺动脉高压大鼠肺组织中骨形成蛋白2（BMP-2）的变化及BMP在低氧诱导内皮细胞凋亡中的作用，探讨BMP在低氧性肺动脉高压发病中的作用。方法将20只雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为2组，低氧组经常压低氧处理3周，建立大鼠低氧性肺动脉高压模型，采用免疫组织化学染色法观察大鼠肺组织中BMP-2的表达。用图像分析技术检测大鼠肺小动脉形态改变及BMP-2表达强度的变化。建立人脐静脉内皮细胞（HUVEC）低氧培养模型，加入BMP阻断剂Noggin，用流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡率。结果低氧3周后，大鼠平均肺动脉压（mPAP）为（29．5±0．9）mmHg（1mmHg=0．133kPa），与对照组的（16．3±0．5）mmHg比较明显增加；低氧大鼠肺小动脉管壁增厚、管腔狭窄，表现为管壁厚度占外径的百分比（WT％）和管壁面积占血管总面积的百分比（WA％）明显升高，分别为（27±7）％和（80±8）％，对照组分别为（16±5）％和（54±11）％，两组相比差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）；低氧组肺小动脉壁BMP-2积分吸光度值（M）为13463±5755，对照组为6124±1199，两组相比差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01），且与WT％和WA％呈明显正相关（r值分别为0．744和0．693，P〈0．01）。低氧诱导内皮细胞凋亡增加，低氧24h时的细胞凋亡率为（14．23±1．01）％，48h时为（25．21±8．58）％；低氧前预先加入Noggin，低氧24h时细胞凋亡率为（11．91±0．57）％，48h时为（15．01±0．15）％，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。结论慢性低氧时BMP-2表达增多；低氧诱导内皮细胞凋亡，BMP阻断剂可抑制低氧诱导的内皮细胞凋亡；BMP在低氧性肺动脉高压发病过程中起一定的作用。     

Reduction of chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in the rat by an inhibitor of collagen production

Chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in the rat is associated with increased collagen and elastin in the pulmonary artery. We investigated whether excess vascular collagen contributes to chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension by administering the proline analogue cis-4-hydroxy-L-proline (cHyp), an agent relatively specific for inhibiting collagen production, to rats exposed to chronic hypoxia. Sprague-Dawley rats (weighting 200 g) were exposed to air or hypoxia (10% O2-90% N2) for 3 wk. Groups studied were: air-exposed injected with saline, air-exposed injected with cHyp, hypoxic injected with saline, and hypoxic injected with cHyp. At the end of 3 wk, we measured mean right ventricular pressure (RVP) of animals breathing room air and hydroxyproline and desmosine contents of the main pulmonary artery trunk. Hypoxia increased RVP from 13 +/- 1 to 27 +/- 1 mm Hg (p less than 0.05); cHyp partially prevented this increase since RVP was 17 +/- 1 mm Hg (p less than 0.05). There was no effect of cHyp on cardiac output. Hypoxia increased collagen from 0.9 +/- 0.1 to 2.0 +/- 0.3 mg/artery (p less than 0.05); cHyp completely prevented this increase since collagen was 1.0 +/- 0.2 mg/artery (p less than 0.05). Hypoxia increased elastin from 1.1 +/- 0.1 to 2.4 +/- 0.2 mg/artery (p less than 0.05); cHyp had no apparent effect since elastin was 2.1 +/- 0.1 mg/artery. Also, cHyp did not affect RVP or vascular collagen or elastin in air-breathing animals. The cHyp treatment prevented luminal narrowing and thickening of arteriolar walls by hypoxia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

碱性成纤维细胞生长因子在低氧性肺动脉高压大鼠肺内表达…

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of bFGF in the development of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. METHOD: Rat models with chronic hypoxia induced pulmonary hypertension were established, the pulmonary hemodynamics were measured and the pulmonary arterioles change were studied with morphometric analysis under light microscopes, immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal antibody against human recombinant bFGF was performed in the paraffin section of rat lung. RESULT: (1) The mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), and the ratio of the thickness of pulmonary arteriolar wall to external diameter of pulmonary arterioles (MT%) were 3.96 +/- 0.47 kPa and 33.8% +/- 3.5% in rats exposed to hypoxia for 3 weeks respectively, both were significant higher than those in normal control group, P < 0.01. (2) The positive staining for bFGF in the wall of pulmonary arterioles in hypoxic rats was stronger than that of control group (P < 0.01), there was a statistical relationship between increase of staining for bFGF and MT% in rats exposed to hypoxia. CONCLUSION: (1) Hypoxia can induce formation of pulmonary hypertension and structual remodeling of pulmonary arterioles. (2) bFGF may modulate the structure remodeling of pulmonary arterioles in chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension.     

新型内源性气体信号分子硫化氢对低氧性肺血管胶原重塑的影响

目的研究大鼠低氧性肺血管重塑时硫化氢(H2S)对Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原蛋白在肺血管壁异常堆积的调节作用,进一步探讨H2S缓解低氧性肺血管重塑的作用机制。方法19只雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为对照组、低氧组、低氧+硫氢化钠(NaHS)组。低氧组和低氧+NaHS组大鼠共低氧21d,低氧+NaHS组大鼠每天低氧前腹腔注射H2S供体NaHS。低氧结束后,测定肺动脉平均压(mPAP),称重右心室(RV)和左心室+室间隔(LV+SP),计算RV/(LV+SP)。亚甲蓝分光光度法测定血浆中H2S含量。免疫组化染色检测Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原蛋白,原位杂交检测Ⅰ、Ⅲ型前胶原mRNA在肺血管壁表达。结果(1)与对照组相比,低氧组大鼠mPAP升高46%,RV/(LV+SP)增加41%,血浆H2S含量下降36%(P均<0·01);与低氧组相比,低氧+NaHS组大鼠的mPAP降低31%,RV/(LV+SP)减少24%,血浆H2S含量升高65%(P均<0·01)。(2)各组大鼠肺小型、中型肌性动脉中Ⅰ型胶原蛋白表达的比较:低氧组较对照组分别增加81%、62%(P<0·01);低氧+NaHS组较低氧组分别减少了32%、18%(P<0·01)。(3)各组大鼠肺小型、中型肌性动脉中Ⅰ型前胶原mRNA表达的比较:低氧组较对照组分别增加49%、68%(P<0·01);低氧+NaHS组较低氧组分别减少了31%、33%(P<0·01)。(4)各组大鼠肺小型肌性动脉中Ⅲ型胶原蛋白表达的比较:低氧组较对照组增加84%(P<0·01);低氧+NaHS组较低氧组减少了37%(P<0·01)。低氧组大鼠的肺中型肌性动脉中Ⅲ型胶原蛋白表达较对照组增加38%(P<0·01);但是与低氧+NaHS组相比无明显变化(P>0·05)。(5)各组大鼠肺小型、中型肌性动脉中Ⅲ型前胶原mRNA表达的比较:低氧组较对照组分别增加53%、17%(P<0·01);低氧+NaHS组较低氧组分别减少了45%、33%(P<0·01)。结论在大鼠低氧性肺血管胶原重塑时,H2S能够抑制Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原蛋白及其mRNA在肺血管壁的表达,此作用可能是其缓解低氧性肺血管重塑的作用机制之一。     

Prolonged nitric oxide inhalation fails to regress hypoxic vascular remodeling in rat lung

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The purpose of present study was to investigate whether long-term nitric oxide (NO) inhalation during the recovery in air might improve the regression of chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (PH) and vascular changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The rats were exposed to 10 ppm of NO in air for 10 days (n = 12) and 30 days (n = 4), or 40 ppm of NO in air for 10 days (n = 6) and 30 days (n = 12) following 10 days of hypobaric hypoxia (380 mm Hg, 10% oxygen). For each NO group, air control rats following hypoxic exposure were studied at the same time (n = 13, 11, 9, and 11, respectively). Normal air rats (n = 6) without hypoxic exposure and rats (n = 7) following 10 days of hypoxic exposure were used as normal and chronic hypoxic control groups, respectively. Muscularization of normally nonmuscular peripheral arteries and medial hypertrophy of normally muscular arteries were assessed by light microscopy. An additional 16 rats were used to investigate the recovery of pulmonary artery pressure with (n = 8) and without NO inhalation (n = 8) after 10 days of hypobaric hypoxia. RESULTS: Long-term hypoxia-induced PH, right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH), and hypertensive pulmonary vascular changes, each of which regressed partly after recovery in room air. There were no differences among rats with and without NO during each recovery period in RVH, medial wall thickness of muscular artery, and the percentages of muscularized arteries at the alveolar wall and duct levels. Continuous inhaled 40 ppm NO decreased pulmonary artery pressure from 40.1 +/- 1.1 to 29.9 +/- 3.8 mm Hg (mean +/- SE) [n = 8], which was not different in the rats without NO inhalation (n = 8). Urine nitrate level was higher in rats that had inhaled NO. CONCLUSION: Continuous NO inhalation showed no effect on regression of pulmonary vascular remodeling in chronic hypoxic PH after returning to room air.     

Increased pulmonary prostacyclin synthesis in rats with chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension

OBJECTIVE: The regulation of pulmonary prostacyclin synthesis is not completely understood. We tested the hypothesis that prostacyclin production is predominantly stimulated by hemodynamic factors, such as increased shear-stress, and is thus increased in rats with chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. METHODS: To this end, we determined pulmonary prostacyclin synthase (PGIS) gene expression, circulating levels of the stable prostacyclin metabolite 6-keto prostaglandin F(1alpha) (6-keto-PGF(1alpha)), pulmonary endothelin (ET)-1 gene expression, and ET-1 plasma levels in rats exposed to 4 weeks of hypoxia (10% O(2)) in the presence or absence of either the nitric oxide (NO) donor molsidomine (MD, 15 mg/kg/day) or the ET-A receptor antagonist LU135252 (LU, 50 mg/kg/day). RESULTS: Right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), the cross-sectional medial vascular wall area of pulmonary arteries, and ET-1 production increased significantly during hypoxia. PGIS mRNA levels increased 1.7-fold, and 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) plasma levels rose from 8.2+/-0.8 to 12.2+/-2.2 ng/ml during hypoxia (each P<0.05 vs. normoxic controls). MD and LU reduced RVSP and pulmonary vascular remodeling similarly (each P<0.05 vs. hypoxia), but only MD inhibited pulmonary ET-1 formation (P<0.05 vs. hypoxia). Nevertheless, both drugs attenuated the increase in PGIS gene expression and plasma 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) levels (each P<0.05 vs. hypoxia). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that prostacyclin production in hypertensive rat lungs is predominantly increased by hemodynamic factors while hypoxia, NO and ET-1 per are less important stimuli, and that this increase may serve as a compensatory mechanism to partially negate the hypoxia-induced elevation in pulmonary vascular tone.     

Dehydroepiandrosterone upregulates soluble guanylate cyclase and inhibits hypoxic pulmonary hypertension

OBJECTIVE: It has been reported that dehydroepiandrosterone is a pulmonary vasodilator and inhibits chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension. Additionally, dehydroepiandrosterone has been shown to improve systemic vascular endothelial function. Thus, we hypothesized that chronic treatment with dehydroepiandrosterone would attenuate hypoxic pulmonary hypertension by enhancing pulmonary artery endothelial function. METHODS AND RESULTS: Rats were randomly assigned to five groups. Three groups received food containing 0, 0.3, or 1% dehydroepiandrosterone during a 3-wk-exposure to simulated high altitude (HA). The other 2 groups were kept at Denver's low altitude (LA) and received food containing 0 or 1% dehydroepiandrosterone. Dehydroepiandrosterone dose-dependently inhibited hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (mean pulmonary artery pressures after treatment with 0, 0.3, and 1% dehydroepiandrosterone=45+/-5, 33+/-2*, and 25+/-1*# mmHg, respectively. *P<0.05 vs. 0% and # vs. 0.3%). Dehydroepiandrosterone (1%, 3 wks) treatment started after rats had been exposed to 3-wk hypoxia also effectively reversed established hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary artery rings isolated from both LA and HA rats treated with 1% dehydroepiandrosterone showed enhanced relaxations to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside, but not to 8-bromo-cGMP. In the pulmonary artery tissue from dehydroepiandrosterone-treated LA and HA rats, soluble guanylate cyclase, but not endothelial nitric oxide synthase, protein levels were increased. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the protective effect of dehydroepiandrosterone against hypoxic pulmonary hypertension may involve upregulation of pulmonary artery soluble guanylate cyclase protein expression and augmented pulmonary artery vasodilator responsiveness to nitric oxide.     

缺氧性腺泡内肺动脉构形重组的形态定量研究

目的观察中药黄芪对缺氧性肺动脉高压及肺腺泡内动脉结构改建的抑制作用。方法６０只大白鼠随机分成缺氧组、缺氧＋黄芪组、正常对照组（各组２０只）。缺氧组、缺氧＋黄芪组大鼠在常压缺氧（１０％Ｏ２１０小时／天）下喂养，在实验第１５天、３０天每组分别取１０只进行右心室收缩压、右心室肥大指数测定后处死，再对肺腺泡内动脉进行光镜、电镜观察及形态学定量分析。结果在实验第３０天后，右心室收缩压，在缺氧组高于缺氧＋黄芪组１８倍（Ｐ＜０．０５），右心室肥大指数，在缺氧组高于缺氧＋黄芪组１３倍（Ｐ＜０．０５），腺泡内动脉中层厚度高于缺氧＋黄芪组２３倍（Ｐ＜０．０５）；肺腺泡内动脉外膜单位面积的纤维母细胞数（密度）在缺氧组是１３１±０３（Ｐ＜０．０５），在缺氧＋黄芪组是７６０±０１９（Ｐ＜０．０５）。结论黄芪抑制了肺腺泡内动脉壁细胞增生及扩张肺动脉，黄芪在抑制肺动脉高压结构改建中可能起重要作用     

Nitric oxide impacts endothelin-1 gene expression in intrapulmonary arteries of chronically hypoxic rats.

This study aimed to investigate whether nitric oxide (NO) could inhibit the elevated endothelin-1 (ET-1) gene expression by pulmonary artery endothelial cells or smooth muscle cells in chronically hypoxic rats by use of in situ hybridization. Male Wistar rats (n = 40) were randomly divided into 1-week hypoxia group, 1-week hypoxia with L-arginine (L-arg) group, 1-week hypoxia with N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) group, 2-week hypoxia group, 2-week hypoxia with L-arg group, and 2-week hypoxia with L-NAME group. All rats were put into a normobaric hypoxic chamber with an oxygen concentration of 10 +/- 0.5% for hypoxic challenge. The results showed that most pulmonary arteries had 1-50% of the endothelial cells showing positive signals for ET-1 expression in hypoxic rats, which was significantly suppressed by L-arg. L-NAME, however, significantly augmented ET-1 gene expression in pulmonary artery endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. The results suggest that endogenous NO markedly inhibits ET-1 mRNA expression in both pulmonary artery endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells in chronically hypoxic rats, which may be one of the mechanisms by which NO modulates hypoxic pulmonary circulation.     

Dissociation of pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular pressure in tissue angiotensin-converting enzyme-deficient mice under conditions of chronic alveolar hypoxia

The present study was designed to characterize the role of tissue angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) on pulmonary vascular remodeling and its functional consequences in chronic hypoxia. On the basis of data obtained by pharmacological inhibition of ACE in rats we hypothesized that, under chronic hypoxic conditions, tissue ACE-deficient mice show less remodeling of pulmonary arterioles as compared with wild-type mice, but have equally increased right ventricular pressures. Wild-type and tissue ACE-deficient mice were exposed to chronic hypoxia for 4 wk. Absence of tissue ACE did not affect the increase in the mean right ventricular pressures (MRVP) and the extent of right ventricular hypertrophy under chronic hypoxic conditions. Chronic hypoxia induced significant remodeling of pulmonary arterioles in tissue ACE-deficient mice. The percentage of completely muscularized arterioles was, however, lower in tissue ACE-deficient mice compared with wild-type animals (29 +/- 12 versus 41 +/- 18%, p < 0.05), whereas the percentage of partially muscularized arterioles had increased (48 +/- 11 versus 39 +/- 11%, p < 0.05). No sex-based effects were found. We conclude that the absence of tissue ACE does not prevent the MRVP and right ventricular weight from increasing during chronic hypoxia in the mouse. Also, pulmonary vascular remodeling occurs in hypoxic tissue ACE-deficient mice, albeit to a lower level than in mice that do have an intact ACE gene.     

Tribble 3在糖尿病心肌病心肌间质重构时的表达和缬沙坦干预的影响

目的探讨Tribble3(TRB3)基因在大鼠Ⅱ型糖尿病心肌病心肌间质重构中的可能作用及缬沙坦干预的影响。方法32只Wistar大鼠以高脂高热量饮食诱导加小剂量链脲佐菌素注射建立Ⅱ型糖尿病心肌病动物模型,随机分为糖尿病心肌病组和缬沙坦治疗组(缬沙坦30mg·kg-1·d-1灌胃),以8只正常大鼠作对照。采用Masson染色测定心肌胶原含量,实时定量逆转录-聚合酶链反应检测心肌TRB3mRNA表达。结果与对照组比较,糖尿病心肌病组左室心肌组织胶原含量显著高(11·01±3·05比16·92±3·18,P<0·01),与糖尿病心肌病组相比,缬沙坦组心肌胶原含量明显低(16·92±3·18比13·23±3·14,P<0·05),心肌组织胶原含量与空腹血糖呈明显正相关(r=0·746,P<0·01);与对照组相比,糖尿病心肌病组大鼠心肌TRB3mRNA表达水平明显高(0·0198±0·0082比0·1108±0·0933,P<0·05);与糖尿病心肌病组比较,缬沙坦组TRB3mRNA表达水平明显低(0·1108±0·0933比0·0367±0·0234,P<0·05);与对照组比较,缬沙坦组TRB3mRNA表达水平差异无统计学意义(P>0·05);糖尿病心肌病组大鼠心肌TRB3mRNA表达与血糖正相关(r=0·69,P<0·05),与心肌组织胶原含量正相关(r=0·67,P<0·05)。结论首次证实TRB3基因在大鼠心肌中表达,发现了TRB3基因可能参与了糖尿病心肌病心肌间质重构,缬沙坦干预减轻糖尿病心肌病心肌间质重构,改善左室舒张和收缩功能,下调TRB基因的表达。     

一氧化碳体系对慢性肺心病大鼠肺血管结构重建的抑制作用

目的　研究内源性一氧化碳体系对慢性肺心病肺血管结构重建的调控作用。方法　将36只SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组 (A组 )、4周低O2 高CO2 组 (B组 ) ,4周低O2 高CO+ 2 血晶素组 (C组 ) ,每组 12只。测定各组大鼠肺动脉平均压 (mPAP)、右心室 / (左心室 +室间隔 )重量比 [RV/ (LV +S) ]、肺细小动脉显微和超微结构、血CO浓度、血清及肺组织匀浆上清液血红素氧合酶 1(HO 1)活性和肺细小动脉HO 1及其基因表达的变化。结果　 (1)B组mPAP为 (2 0 1± 0 8)mmHg(1mmHg =0 .133kPa)、RV/ (LV +S)为 (35 5± 1 7) %、与A组 [(15 3± 1 4 )mmHg、(2 6 7± 1 7) % ]及C组[(16 5± 3 7)mmHg、(30 2± 1 6 ) % ]比较差异有显著性 (P均 <0 0 1)。 (2 )B组肺细小动脉血管结构重建的显微形态测定指标与A、C组比较差异也有显著性 (P <0 0 1)。 (3)B组全血CO含量、血清及肺组织匀浆HO 1活性、肺细小动脉HO 1及其mRNA分别为 (2 1± 0 9) %、(73± 18)nmol·L-1·h-1、(175 1± 311)pmol·mg-1·h-1、0 191± 0 0 12和 0 30 1± 0 0 17,与A组 [(0 5± 0 3) %、(2 5± 8)nmol·L-1·h-1、(385± 4 6 )pmol·mg-1·h-1、0 0 5 9± 0 0 0 5、0 131± 0 0 11]和C组 [(4 9± 2 1) %、(132±39)nmol·L-1·h-1     

Collagen and elastin metabolism in hypertensive pulmonary arteries of rats

We evaluated the processes controlling the accumulation of collagen and elastin in main pulmonary arteries of rats during an episode of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Explant cultures of main pulmonary arteries were incubated with [3H]proline to measure collagen and protein synthesis and percent collagen synthesis. Elastin synthesis was measured by [14C]valine incorporation into insoluble elastin. Relative collagen synthesis increased twofold (from 1.1 +/- 0.2 x 10(3) to 2.0 +/- 1.0 x 10(3) disintegrations per minute [14C]hydroxyproline/vessel/hr/mg protein), relative collagen synthesis doubled (from 2% to 4-5% of total protein synthesis), and elastin synthesis increased ninefold (from 0.4 +/- 0.2 x 10(4) to 3.6 +/- 0.6 x 10(4) dpm [14C]valine/vessel/hr/mg protein) in early hypertension. The level of pro alpha l(I) collagen RNA paralleled the relative collagen synthetic rate during the study period. Within 7 days of recovery from hypoxia, collagen and elastin contents were normal. We conclude that collagen and elastin in main pulmonary arteries are synthesized rapidly during an episode of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and that collagen and elastin are rapidly removed from the hypertensive vessel during normoxic recovery.     

Liposome-entrapped antifibrotic agent prevents collagen accumulation in hypertensive pulmonary arteries of rats.

We studied the therapeutic efficacy of an intravenously injected antifibrotic agent encapsulated in liposomes on inhibiting collagen accumulation in hypertensive blood vessels. cis-4-Hydroxy-L-proline (cHyp) in liposomes was injected into rats exposed to 10% O2, and drug effect was evaluated by measuring right ventricular pressure and hydroxyproline content of the pulmonary artery. Right ventricular pressure was 11 +/- 1 mm Hg (mean +/- SEM) 5 days after a single intravenous injection of 200 mg/kg cHyp in liposomes compared with 14 +/- 1 mm Hg in rats injected with empty liposomes; hydroxyproline content was also reduced by cHyp treatment (87 +/- 6 versus 107 +/- 7 micrograms per vessel) (p less than 0.05 for both, n = 6-9). Injections of cHyp in liposomes every 5 days partially prevented hypertension and vascular collagen accumulation during a 3-week exposure to hypoxia, and the dose required was one tenth the dose of unencapsulated cHyp. Therapeutic doses of cHyp in liposomes injected for 6 months affected tensile properties of main pulmonary artery and aorta, but there were no apparent histological effects on other organs. Liposomes injected intravenously were identified in pulmonary artery endothelial cells. The prolonged effect of a single injection of cHyp in liposomes may be due to uptake of the liposomes by the endothelium. Liposome delivery of drugs to the arterial wall may be useful in the study and treatment of hypertensive vascular disease.     

吡那地尔防治大鼠低氧性肺动脉高压肺血管重建的实验研究

目的研究钾通道开放剂吡那地尔对低氧性肺动脉高压（ＨＰＨ）及其肺血管重建的影响。方法Ｗｉｓｔｅｒ大鼠４６只,随机分为３组：对照组１５只;低氧组１６只;治疗组（低氧＋吡那地尔）１５只。低氧组及治疗组建立低氧性肺动脉高压动物模型,治疗组于每天缺氧前腹腔注射吡那地尔３ｍｇ／ｋｇ。 ４周后测定各组平均肺动脉压（ｍＰＡＰ）、右心室（ＲＶ）／左心室＋室间隔（ＬＶ＋ Ｓ）比值和肺小动脉病理及其形态计量学。结果（１）低氧组ｍＰＡＰ、ＲＶ／（ＬＶ＋Ｓ）分别为（２８．４ ± ２．８）ｍｍＨｇ和（０．３０±０．０３）,明显高于对照组（１６．２±１．８）ｍｍ Ｈｇ和（０．２２±０．０３）（Ｐ＜０．０１）,管壁厚度与血管外径比值（ＭＴ％）、管壁面积与血管总面积比值（ＭＡ％）分别为（２５．７±２．６）％和（７５．３±５．６）％,亦明显高于对照组（１８．５±２．９）％和（５９．９±６．６）％（Ｐ＜０．０１）,管腔面积与血管总面积比值（ＶＡ％）为（２４．３±５．６）％,明显低于对照组（４０．７±８．１）％（Ｐ＜０．０１）。提示慢性缺氧导致大鼠发生明显肺动脉高压及右心室肥厚和肺小动脉管壁增厚、管腔狭窄等肺血管重建等改变。（２）治疗组ｍＰＡＰ、ＲＶ／     

Hydralazine does not inhibit canine hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction

Clinical experience with hydralazine has led to conflicting data concerning its effect on the pulmonary vasculature. We studied the effects of hydralazine on the hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstrictor response in 9 dogs challenged with inhalation of 10% oxygen in the presence and absence of hydralazine. Prior to administration of the drug, hypoxia increased cardiac output from 174 +/- 13 to 209 +/- 21 ml/kg/min (p less than 0.05) and pulmonary artery pressure from 9 +/- 1 to 19 +/- 1 mmHg (p less than 0.05). After hydralazine, cardiac output rose during normoxia to 275 +/- 30 and during hypoxia to 305 +/- 34 ml/kg/min (p less than 0.05). Pulmonary artery pressure continued to respond to hypoxia, rising from 11 +/- 1 to 21 +/- 1 mmHg (p less than 0.05) in the presence of hydralazine. Hydralazine reduced pulmonary vascular resistance during normoxia from 173 +/- 14 to 136 +/- 13 dynes X s X cm-5 (p less than 0.05) but even after the drug, pulmonary vascular resistance rose sharply during hypoxia. There was no significant difference in the response to hypoxia of pulmonary artery pressure or pulmonary vascular resistance after hydralazine when compared with that before hydralazine. In a second set of 6 dogs, we repeated these experiments but volume-depleted the dogs after the administration of hydralazine to prevent the passive pulmonary vasodilation that occurs because of the rise in cardiac output with the drug. We again found no inhibition of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction by hydralazine. Finally, we administered sodium nitroprusside to 4 dogs using the same model and found a significant inhibition of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. Hydralazine, unlike nitroprusside, does not inhibit the pulmonary vascular response to hypoxia.     

慢性痛导致低氧性肺动脉功能异常

目的 研究慢性病理性神经痛对低氧性肺动脉高压发生发展的影响及可能机制。方法 30只SD大鼠随机分为5组:常氧组、慢性痛＋常氧组、低氧组、慢性痛+低氧组和慢性痛+低氧+Alda1（乙醛脱氢酶2特异性激动剂）组，每组6只。慢性痛采用经典的大鼠背根节慢性压迫(chronic compression of dorsal root ganglia,CCD)模型。造模成功后用间断性低压低氧法建立大鼠低氧性肺动脉高压模型，然后分离大鼠三级肺小动脉，检测不同组大鼠的肺血管环舒张、收缩功能变化，同时测定各组大鼠血液循环中4-羟基壬烯酸（4-hydroxy-2-nonenal,4-HNE）的水平和肺动脉上乙醛脱氢酶(Aldehyde dehydrogenase,ALDH)2的表达。结果 低氧导致肺小动脉的舒张功能减弱(P<0.05)，收缩功能亢进；但是在慢性痛状态下，低氧组大鼠肺小动脉舒张功能进一步减弱(P<0.01)，而肺小动脉收缩功能更加亢进(P<0.01)。与此同时，低氧促进大鼠血液中4-HNE的水平升高(P<0.01)，而慢性痛+低氧组大鼠循环血液中4-HNE的水平增高更为显著(P<0.01)，提示慢性痛+低氧组大鼠肺动脉舒缩、功能异常可能是由长期慢性神经痛产生大量的4-HNE造成的。使用ALDH2的激动剂Alda1后能够显著改善慢性痛和低氧导致的肺小动脉舒张、收缩功能异常，促进肺小动脉舒张(P<0.01)，抑制收缩(P<0.01)，而且Alda-1能够显著上调慢性痛和低氧降低的ALDH2的表达(P<0.01)，减少循环血中4-HNE的水平(P<0.01)。结论 慢性病理性神经痛促进循环中4-HNE的水平增高，加重肺小动脉舒张、收缩功能异常，降低ALDH2的表达，促进低氧性肺动脉高压的发生发展。慢性神经痛可能是促进、加重低氧性肺动脉高压发生发展的诱因之一。     

Effect of heparin and warfarin on chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and vascular remodeling in the guinea pig

Chronic hypoxia produces pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary vascular remodeling. Heparin partially prevents the rise in right ventricular pressure and vascular remodeling in chronically hypoxic mice. To determine if this is due to the anticoagulant property of heparin or another property, we compared the effect of oral warfarin given at an anticoagulating dose (0.5 mg/kg/day) to heparin given by continuous infusion at a dose that does not prolong the partial thromboplastin time (PTT) (20 units/kg/h) on hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and vascular remodeling in the guinea pig. Normoxic control animals either untreated or treated with heparin or Coumadin were all alike in blood gases, pulmonary vascular resistance, right heart weights, and pulmonary histology. Hypoxia (10% 0(2) for 10 days) induced similar and significant increases in mean pulmonary artery (PA) pressure in both the hypoxic control and warfarin groups (19 +/- 1 mm Hg (mean +/- SEM) in both groups versus 11 +/- 0.1 mm Hg in the normoxic control group; p less than 0.05). Total pulmonary vascular resistance (TPR) was also increased from 0.041 +/- 0.002 in the normoxic control group to 0.087 +/- 0.007 and 0.071 +/- 0.003 mm Hg/ml/min/kg in the hypoxic control and warfarin groups, respectively (p less than 0.05). Whereas anticoagulation with warfarin did not protect the guinea pig from developing pulmonary hypertension, heparin markedly reduced PA and TPR (15 +/- 1 mm Hg and 0.052 +/- 0.002 mm Hg/ml/min/kg, respectively; p less than 0.05 versus hypoxic control or warfarin).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)