Pulmonary hypertension induced in rats by monocrotaline and chronic hypoxia is reduced by p-chlorophenylalanine

We have studied the role of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in monocrotaline pulmonary hypertension and chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in rats using p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) which inhibits 5-HT synthesis. We measured right ventricular mean systolic pressure (Prvs), right ventricular hypertrophy, medial thickness of muscular pulmonary arteries, and muscularization of pulmonary arterioles 17 days after a single dose of monocrotaline (60 mg/kg) and after 26 days of chronic hypobaric hypoxia (380 mm Hg). In monocrotaline pulmonary hypertension, pretreatment with PCPA (500 mg/kg) was associated with significant reductions (p less than 0.05) in Prvs (29%), right ventricular hypertrophy (33%), and medial thickness of muscular pulmonary arteries (14%). In chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension, pretreatment with PCPA was associated with significant reductions in Prvs (20%), right ventricular hypertrophy (28%), medial thickness of muscular pulmonary arteries (14%), and muscularization of pulmonary arterioles (47%). 5-HT may play a role in the development of monocrotaline pulmonary hypertension and chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in rats.     

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.     

Pulmonary vascular reactivity in the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

We examined the pulmonary vascular reactivity of normotensive rats (NR) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) to acute and chronic pressor stimuli. In rats kept at low altitude (1,520 m), SHR had a slight degree of right ventricular hypertrophy, but there was no difference between SHR and NR in either right ventricular systolic pressure or pulmonary artery wall thickness. When compared to blood-perfused lungs from low altitude NR, lungs from low altitude SHR were normoresponsive to acute airway hypoxia, hyporesponsive to intra-arterial angiotensin II, and hyperresponsive to intra-arterial prostaglandin F2alpha. After exposing rats to simulated high altitude (4--6 weeks at 4,270 m) to induce hypoxic pulmonary hypertension, SHR had a higher right ventricular systolic pressure, a greater degree of right ventricular hypertrophy, and more pulmonary artery medial thickening than did NR. The results indicate that although the pulmonary vasculature of SHR does not become hypertensive spontaneously, it might have an increased tendency to develop hypertension when exposed to an appropriate stimulus, i.e., chronic airway hypoxia.     

Lack of smooth muscle in the small pulmonary arteries of the native Ladakhi. Is the Himalayan highlander adapted?

Chronic hypobaric hypoxia induces a mild degree of pulmonary arterial hypertension with structural alterations in the peripheral portions of the pulmonary arterial tree of the native Andean highlanders. On the other hand, animals indigenous to high altitude do not show these changes and are adapted to hypobaric hypoxia. The small pulmonary arteries of seven native Himalayan highlanders were examined at autopsy and found to be thin-walled with no medial hypertrophy of the muscular pulmonary arteries or muscularization of the arterioles. These findings suggest that the Himalayan highlanders may be adapted to hypobaric hypoxia.     

P130cas在低压低氧肺动脉高压大鼠中的表达

目的探究P130cas(Crk associated substrate)在低压低氧肺动脉高压大鼠血清及组织中的表达。方法将20只大鼠随机分为正常对照组和低压低氧组。正常对照组在正常环境下饲养28天,低压低氧组在低压低氧舱(低压低氧舱模拟海拔5000米高度)饲养28天。右心导管方法测定各组大鼠肺动脉压力,ELISA方法测定每组大鼠血清中P130cas表达,免疫组化检测肺动脉中P130cas的表达,应用Western blot测定大鼠肺组织中P130cas蛋白表达量。结果低压低氧组大鼠平均肺动脉压力较正常对照组明显升高,且达到肺动脉高压诊断标准;低压低氧组P130cas在大鼠血清及肺组织中的表达较对照组明显升高。结论P130cas可能参与了低压低氧肺动脉高压的形成。     

Reduced hypoxic pulmonary vascular remodeling by nitric oxide from the endothelium

We examined whether overproduction of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) can prevent hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension and vascular remodeling by using endothelial NO-overexpressing (eNOS-Tg) mice. Male eNOS-Tg mice and their littermates (wild-type, WT) were maintained in normoxic or 10% hypoxic condition for 3 weeks. In normoxia, eNOS protein levels, Ca(2+)-dependent NOS activity, and cGMP levels in the lung of eNOS-Tg mice were higher than those of WT mice. Activity of eNOS and cGMP production in the lung did not change significantly by hypoxic exposure in either genotype. Chronic hypoxia did not induce iNOS expression nor increase its activity in either genotype. Plasma and lung endothelin-1 levels were increased by chronic hypoxia, but these levels were not significantly different between the 2 genotypes. In hemodynamic analysis, right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) in eNOS-Tg mice was similar to that in WT mice in normoxia. Chronic hypoxia increased RVSP and induced right ventricular hypertrophy in both genotypes; however, the degrees of these increases were significantly smaller in eNOS-Tg mice. Histological examination revealed that hypoxic mice showed medial wall thickening in pulmonary arteries. However, the increase of the wall thickening in small arteries (diameter <80 microm) by chronic hypoxia was inhibited in eNOS-Tg mice. Furthermore, muscularization of small arterioles was significantly attenuated in eNOS-Tg mice. Thus, we demonstrated directly that overproduction of eNOS-derived NO can inhibit not only the increase in RVSP associated with pulmonary hypertension but also remodeling of the pulmonary vasculature and right ventricular hypertrophy induced by chronic hypoxia.     

Intermittent high altitude hypoxia

The effect of intermittent high altitude (IHA) hypoxia on the myocardium and lesser circulation was investigated in adult male Wistar rats. IHA can induce intermittent pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy in a relatively short time. Even marked pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular hypertrophy, and pulmonary vascular changes can be normalized when rats are removed from the hypoxic atmosphere. At the beginning of the exposure to IHA acute myocardial necrotic changes were found; prolongation of IHA did not lead to further acute lesions. Experimentally induced CO polycythemia leads to mild pulmonary hypertension; IHA-induced pulmonary hypertension may, thus, be partly due to polycythemia. Beta blocking agents are able to decrease chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension, hypertensive changes in the pulmonary circulation, the degree of right ventricular hypertrophy, and necrotic myocardial changes.     

舒肺颗粒对大鼠低氧性肺动脉高压的影响

目的观察舒肺颗粒对大鼠低氧性肺动脉高压的影响。方法将30只雄性Wistar大鼠分为常压对照组、低氧对照组和低氧/中药给药组。以常压低氧复制肺动脉高压模型。观察右心室肥厚指数、肺小动脉管壁厚度的变化。结果低氧/中药给药组应用舒肺颗粒后大鼠肺血管厚度、右心室肥厚指标显著低于低氧对照组(P<0.05),并可抑制低氧所致的大鼠右心室肥厚(P<0.05)。结论舒肺颗粒在防治低氧性肺动脉高压中具有一定的应用前景。     

Prevention and reversal of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension by calcium antagonists

There exists no agreement as to the best vasodilator drug for treatment of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. We wondered which of 3 commonly used vasodilators - verapamil, nifedipine, or hydralazine - would be the most effective in reducing and reversing the development of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in the conscious rat. Hemodynamic studies showed that all 3 drugs inhibited the pressor response to acute hypoxia. Given for 1 month to conscious rats during exposure to intermittent hypoxia, verapamil and nifedipine reduced pulmonary hypertension when compared with hypoxic control animals, as indicated by right ventricular hypertrophy, total pulmonary resistance, and medial thickening. Hydralazine caused similar, but smaller, changes. Nifedipine, when used to reverse established hypoxic pulmonary hypertension, reduced right ventricular hypertrophy and medial thickening. Cardiac and systemic effects were negligible. These results demonstrate that the calcium channel blockers reduce the development of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and that nifedipine partially reverses established hypertension.     

Correlation of inhaled nitric-oxide induced reduction of pulmonary artery pressure and vascular changes.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the relationship between hypertensive pulmonary vascular remodelling and the changes in mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) during low-dose nitric oxide (NO) inhalation. Rats were exposed to chronic hypobaric hypoxia (air at 50.5 kPa (380 mmHg), 10% oxygen, for 5-29 days) to induce chronic pulmonary hypertension (PH) with pulmonary vascular structural changes. After the chronic hypoxic exposure, the rats had an indwelling pulmonary artery catheter inserted and changes in mPAP with NO were correlated to morphometrical analysis of pulmonary vascular changes. All concentrations of inhaled NO (0.1-2.0 parts per million) reduced mPAP with a similar per cent reduction from baseline mPAP in PH rats, while no changes were observed in control rats. During NO inhalation in PH rats, the absolute value of the decrease in mPAP, but not per cent reduction in mPAP, significantly correlated with baseline mPAP, the percentage of muscularised arteries at the alveolar wall level and at the alveolar duct level, and the per cent medial wall thickness of muscularised arteries. In the chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension model, the severity of pulmonary vascular remodelling did not alter the reactivity of the pulmonary arteries to nitric oxide and might, in part, determine the magnitude of nitric-oxide induced absolute reduction in mean pulmonary artery pressure.     

Effects of atrial natriuretic factor in chronic hypoxic spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The present study was designed first to investigate the pulmonary hypertensive effects of chronic hypoxia in spontaneously hypertensive rats and second to compare the cardiovascular effects of atrial natriuretic factor on rats exposed to hypoxia and on control rats kept at sea level. Catheters were placed in the femoral and pulmonary arteries for measurement of mean systemic arterial pressure and mean pulmonary arterial pressure. The cardiac output was measured by thermodilution method. It was found that 4 weeks of simulated 18,000-foot hypoxia led to polycythemia, right ventricular hypertrophy, and pulmonary hypertension, which resulted from an increased pulmonary vascular resistance. However, systemic arterial pressure was not significantly different between the two groups of rats. Atrial natriuretic factor administration decreased systemic arterial pressure and pulmonary arterial pressure to a lesser extent in the hypoxic group compared with the sea level control group. It is concluded that these animals showed an impaired response to atrial natriuretic factor after long-term exposure to hypoxia.     

慢性低氧性肺动脉高压大鼠肺动脉内PTEN蛋白表达的变化

目的 通过观察慢性低氧性肺动脉高压大鼠肺动脉内人第10号染色体缺失的磷酸酶及张力蛋白同源的基因（PTEN）蛋白表达水平的变化,初步探讨PTEN在慢性低氧性肺动脉高压的发生、发展过程中所起的作用.方法 将6周龄健康雄性SD大鼠,随机分为正常对照组、低氧1d、3d、7d、14d和21d组,除对照组外,其他各组先建立慢性低氧肺动脉高压大鼠模型,然后检测各组大鼠右心室收缩压（right ventricle systolic pressure,RVSP）和右心室肥厚指数（right ventricle hypertrophy index,RVHI）,采用HE染色观察肺动脉病理学改变,采用Western blot技术检测肺动脉内PTEN蛋白的表达水平.结果 ①与正常对照组（23.76±0.82）mmHg相比,低氧暴露1d、3d、7d、14 d、21d后RVSP均明显上升（P＜0.05）;RVHI低氧3d、7d、14 d、21d组均较正常对照组（100％）明显上升（P＜0.05）;低氧暴露3d、7d和21d组肺动脉中膜明显增厚、管腔明显变小.②PTEN和p-PTEN在正常对照组和低氧各组均有表达.低氧各组肺动脉内PTEN蛋白的表达较对照组下降,但差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;而p-PTEN蛋白与PTEN总蛋白表达量的比值随低氧时间的延长有上升趋势,且在慢性低氧21d组（1.71±0.25）较正常对照组（1.00）明显增高（P＜0.05）.结论 PTEN蛋白表达的降低和p-PTEN蛋白表达的增高可能参与了大鼠慢性低氧性肺动脉高压的发生和发展过程.     

Heart rate variability in rats with chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension

The precise role of pulmonary hypertension as a possible factor inducing a decrease in heart rate variability is poorly known. Spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) was carried out in 21 Wistar rats before and after exposure to normoxia (N = 10) or to 3 weeks of hypobaric hypoxia inducing chronic pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy (N= 11). Continuous ECG was recorded in conscious animal at rest. Compared to the control group, rats exposed to hypoxia had a similar heart rate but a lower overall HRV (total power, 27.9 +/- 15.2 vs. 57.6 +/- 24.7 ms2, P < 0.01). Low frequency power (0.25-0.8 Hz) and high frequency power (0.8-3 Hz) were similar in both groups suggesting that HRV was decreased in the very low frequency power (0-0.25 Hz). The effects of atropine and propranolol on heart rate and HRV were similar in rats exposed or not to hypoxia. HRV is decreased in rats with hypoxic induced pulmonary hypertension, mainly in the very low frequency band, suggesting an increase in sympathetic activity. However, this decrease is moderate and the modulation of HRV with pharmacologic autonomic blockade remains similar to that of normal rats.     

波生坦抑制低氧介导的大鼠肺动脉中5-羟色胺转运体的过度表达

目的 观察5-羟色胺转运体（5-HTT）在低氧性肺动脉高压（HPH）大鼠肺动脉中的表达,探讨波生坦对其肺动脉中5-HTT表达的影响.方法 30只雄性SD大鼠随机分为对照组（C组）、低氧组（H组）和波生坦组（B组）（每组10只）.C组于正常环境中饲养3周,其余2组置于低压低氧舱中饲养3周.B组大鼠予以波生坦100mg·kg^-1·d^-1灌胃,H组按体质量同体积蒸馏水灌胃.测定各组大鼠的平均肺动脉压力（mPAP）、右心室收缩压（RVSP）.免疫组织化学和Western-blot方法分别观察和测定大鼠肺动脉和肺组织中5-HTT的表达水平.结果 H组大鼠的mPAP和RVSP明显高于C组（P值均＜0.05）;和H组大鼠相比,B组大鼠mPAP和RVSP均显著降低（P值均＜0.05）.免疫组织化学和Western-blot结果显示：和C组相比,H组大鼠肺动脉和肺组织中5-HTT的表达明显升高,而B组大鼠肺动脉和肺组织中5-HTT的表达明显低于H组.结论 HPH大鼠肺动脉和肺组织中5-HTT呈过表达,而波生坦可以显著抑制低氧介导的大鼠肺动脉和肺组织中5-HTT的表达增多,这可能是波生坦的新的药理机制之一.     

YM155, a selective survivin inhibitor,reverses chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in rats via upregulating voltage-gated potassium channels

Abstract

To test the hypothesis that chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (CH-PH) is associated with increased survivin and decreased voltage-gated potassium (K_V) channels expression in pulmonary arteries, rats were randomized as: normoxia (N); normoxia?+?YM155, survivin suppressor (NY); hypoxia (H); hypoxia?+?YM155 (HY). HY group had significantly reduced pulmonary arterial pressure, right ventricular weight and right ventricular hypertrophy compared with H group. Survivin mRNA and protein were detected in pulmonary arteries of rats with CH-PH, but not rats without CH-PH. YM155 downregulated survivin protein and mRNA. K_V channel expression and activity were upregulated after YM155 treatment. Survivin may play a role in the pathogenesis of CH-PH.     

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。     

Development and characterization of an animal model of severe pulmonary arterial hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a serious pathological phenomenon with poor prognosis, which is associated with morphological as well as hemodynamic alteration of the pulmonary circulation. To establish an animal model mimicking severe human PAH, we combined 2 well-described procedures, i.e. exposure to hypobaric chronic hypoxia and administration of monocrotaline hydrochloride in rats. Compared to a single procedure, the combined procedure induced more severe right ventricle hypertrophy and an increase in right ventricle systolic pressure. Histological examination on the combined procedure model revealed a severe medial hypertrophy as well as occlusive vascular changes of the intra-acinar pulmonary arteries with endothelial lesions. It is noteworthy that severe alterations including concentric neointimal thickening, abnormal endothelial proliferation, plexiform lesions and vascular occlusion with fibrin thrombi were observed in the combined pulmonary hypertension model when exposed to a long period of hypoxia. The present data indicate that a combined treatment of monocrotaline injection and hypobaric chronic hypoxia exposure produces more severe hemodynamic changes and histological alterations. Since human PAH diagnosed in clinical practice is often severe, this combined treatment animal model could be useful to identify relevant therapeutic targets acting on both hemodynamic and structural alterations of the pulmonary circulation.     

Vascular endothelial growth factor-B-deficient mice show impaired development of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that Vegf-B contributes to the pulmonary vascular remodelling, and the associated pulmonary hypertension, induced by exposure of mice to chronic hypoxia. METHODS: Right ventricular systolic pressure, the ratio of right ventricle/[left ventricle+septum] (RV/[LV+S]) and the thickness of the media (relative to vessel diameter) of intralobar pulmonary arteries (o.d. 50-150 and 151-420 microm) were determined in Vegfb knockout mice (Vegfb(-/-); n=17) and corresponding wild-type mice (Vegfb(+/+); n=17) exposed to chronic hypoxia (10% oxygen) or housed in room air (normoxia) for 4 weeks. RESULTS: In Vegfb(+/+) mice hypoxia caused (i) pulmonary hypertension (a 70% increase in right ventricular systolic pressure compared with normoxic Vegfb(+/+) mice; P<0.001), (ii) right ventricular hypertrophy (a 66% increase in RV/[LV+S]; P<0.001) and (iii) pulmonary vascular remodelling (a 27-36% increase in pulmonary arterial medial thickness; P<0.05). In contrast, in Vegfb(-/-) mice hypoxia did not cause any increase in either right ventricular systolic pressure or pulmonary arterial medial thickness; also right ventricular hypertrophy (41% increase in RV/[LV+S]; P<0.001) was less pronounced (P<0.05) than in Vegfb(+/+) mice. CONCLUSION: Vegf-B may have a role in the development of chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in mice by contributing to pulmonary vascular remodelling. If so, the effect of Vegf-B appears to be different from that of Vegf-A which is reported to protect against, rather than contribute to, hypoxia-induced pulmonary vascular remodelling.     

Diethylcarbamazine inhibits acute and chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in awake rats

Leukotriene inhibitors preferentially inhibit the acute pressor response to hypoxia in isolated rat lungs. If leukotrienes are important in hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, then inhibition of their synthesis could prevent the development of chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. We found that diethylcarbamazine (DEC), a leukotriene synthesis blocker, reversibly inhibited acute hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in the awake rat. Rats exposed to chronic hypobaric hypoxia showed pulmonary hypertension and the production of a slow-reacting substance compared with low altitude control rats. The higher of 2 doses of DEC blocked the pulmonary hypertension and the production of slow-reacting substance in all of the hypoxic rats treated. The lower dose of DEC attenuated the pulmonary hypertension in only some of the rats. Changes in weight gain, hematocrit, or generation of prostacyclin did not explain the prevention of the pulmonary hypertension by DEC. We conclude that diethylcarbamazine inhibits acute and chronic pulmonary hypertension in the intact rat.     

Bilateral ventricular hypertrophy in rats exposed to acute or chronic hypobaric hypoxia

Development of bilateral ventricular hypertrophy in animals exposed to sustained hypoxia is demonstrated. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (180-200 g) were subjected to acute (0.40 atm/24 h) or chronic intermittent (0.40 atm/18 h/day/7days) hypobaric hypoxia. Control animals were maintained at room pressure. The changes in ventricular mass (right ventricle and left ventricle including the septum) were evaluated on the basis of the dry weight values immediately at the end of hypoxic stimulus. Data show that both acute and chronic hypobaric hypoxia allow rate to develop a significantly degree of hypertrophy in the left as well as in the right ventricle. The factors involved in the genesis of the left ventricular hypertrophy in hypoxic conditions are presented.