| Abstract: | The effectiveness of diltiazem, a slow channel calcium blocker, ibuprofen, a nonselective inhibitor of prostanoid synthesis, and the selective inhibition of thromboxane A2 with imidazole and UK-38,485 in retarding the development of right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy was assessed in a rat model of chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Both ibuprofen and diltiazem significantly reduced RV hypertrophy in the chronically hypoxic rat. In contrast, selective inhibition of thromboxane A2 was ineffective in reducing RV hypertrophy. The beneficial effect of ibuprofen was unrelated to inhibition of thromboxane A2. Furthermore, thromboxane A2 did not appear to be involved in the development of RV hypertrophy in this experimental model of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. |
