Cardiorespiratory responses to hypoxia in intact and bilaterally vagotomized pigeons

Bilateral, cervical vagotomy in birds denervates, among other receptors, the carotid bodies. To test whether such neural section removes sensitivity to hypoxia, we measured respiratory, cardiovascular, and blood gas responses to hypoxia at 84-, 70-, and 49-Torr inspiratory O2 partial pressure (PIO2) in five pigeons with intact vagi and in five bilaterally, cervically vagotomized pigeons. Normoxic respiratory frequency (fresp) and expiratory flow rate (VE) were decreased after vagotomy. Intact pigeons showed large increases in VE in response to hypoxia, effected mostly by increases in fresp. VE also increased greatly in response to hypoxia in vagotomized pigeons, but increases were largely the result of tidal volume. O2 consumption, CO2 production, and respiratory exchange ratio increased slightly in all pigeons during hypoxia. Normoxic heart rate was greater after vagotomy; cardiac output increased in all pigeons in response to hypoxia, but stroke volume increased only in intact pigeons. During normoxia, arterial and mixed venous O2 partial pressure, O2 concentration, and pH were lower and arterial and mixed venous CO2 partial pressure was higher, after vagotomy. In all pigeons during hypoxia, arterial and mixed venous O2 and CO2 partial pressure and O2 concentration decreased and arterial and mixed venous pH increased; changes were roughly parallel in intact and vagotomized pigeons. The arteriovenous O2 concentration differences during normoxia and hypoxia were similar in all pigeons. We conclude that bilateral, cervical vagotomy in the pigeon causes hypoventilation and tachycardia during normoxia, but strong respiratory and cardiovascular responses to hypoxia are still present.     

Precursors and inhibitors of hydrogen sulfide synthesis affect acute hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in the intact lung

The effects of hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) and acute hypoxia are similar in isolated pulmonary arteries from various species. However, the involvement of H(2)S in hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) has not been studied in the intact lung. The present study used an intact, isolated, perfused rat lung preparation to examine whether adding compounds essential to H(2)S synthesis or to its inhibition would result in a corresponding increase or decrease in the magnitude of HPV. Western blots performed in lung tissue identified the presence of the H(2)S-synthesizing enzymes, cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfur transferase (3-MST), but not cystathionine β-synthase (CBS). Adding three H(2)S synthesis precursors, cysteine and oxidized or reduced glutathione, to the perfusate significantly increased peak arterial pressure during hypoxia compared with control (P < 0.05). Adding α-ketoglutarate to enhance the 3-MST enzyme pathway also resulted in an increase (P < 0.05). Both aspartate, which inhibits the 3-MST synthesis pathway, and propargylglycine (PPG), which inhibits the CSE pathway, significantly reduced the increases in arterial pressure during hypoxia. Diethylmaleate (DEM), which conjugates sulfhydryls, also reduced the peak hypoxic arterial pressure at concentrations >2 mM. Finally, H(2)S concentrations as measured with a specially designed polarographic electrode decreased markedly in lung tissue homogenate and in small pulmonary arteries when air was added to the hypoxic environment of the measurement chamber. The results of this study provide evidence that the rate of H(2)S synthesis plays a role in the magnitude of acute HPV in the isolated perfused rat lung.     

Pulmonary arterial and venous constriction during hypoxia in 3- to 5-wk-old and adult ferrets

We have determined the sites of hypoxic vasoconstriction in ferret lungs. Lungs of five 3- to 5-wk-old and five adult ferrets were isolated and perfused with blood. Blood flow was adjusted initially to keep pulmonary arterial pressure at 20 cmH2O and left atrial and airway pressures at 6 and 8 cmH2O, respectively (zone 3). Once adjusted, flow was kept constant throughout the experiment. In each lung, pressures were measured in subpleural 20- to 50-microns-diam arterioles and venules with the micropipette servo-nulling method during normoxia (PO2 approximately 100 Torr) and hypoxia (PO2 less than 50 Torr). In normoxic adult ferret lungs, approximately 40% of total vascular resistance was in arteries, approximately 40% was in microvessels, and approximately 20% was in veins. With hypoxia, the total arteriovenous pressure drop increased by 68%. Arterial and venous pressure drops increased by 92 and 132%, respectively, with no change in microvascular pressure drop. In 3- to 5-wk-old ferret lungs, the vascular pressure profile during normoxia and the response to hypoxia were similar to those in adult lungs. We conclude that, in ferret lungs, arterial and venous resistances increase equally during hypoxia, resulting in increased microvascular pressures for fluid filtration.     

Cellular disposition of transported polyamines in hypoxic rat lung and pulmonary arteries

The polyamines putrescine, spermidine (SPD), and spermine are a family of low-molecular-weight organic cations essential for cell growth and differentiation and other aspects of signal transduction. Hypoxic pulmonary vascular remodeling is accompanied by depressed lung polyamine synthesis and markedly augmented polyamine uptake. Cell types in which hypoxia induces polyamine transport in intact lung have not been delineated. Accordingly, rat lung and rat main pulmonary arterial explants were incubated with [(14)C]SPD in either normoxic (21% O(2)) or hypoxic (2% O(2)) environments for 24 h. Autoradiographic evaluation confirmed previous studies showing that, in normoxia, alveolar epithelial cells are dominant sites of polyamine uptake. In contrast, hypoxia was accompanied by prominent localization of [(14)C]SPD in conduit, muscularized, and partially muscularized pulmonary arteries, which was not evident in normoxic lung tissue. Hypoxic main pulmonary arterial explants also exhibited substantial increases in [(14)C]SPD uptake relative to control explants, and autoradiography revealed that enhanced uptake was most evident in the medial layer. Main pulmonary arterial explants denuded of endothelium failed to increase polyamine transport in hypoxia. Conversely, medium conditioned by endothelial cells cultured in hypoxic, but not in normoxic, environments enabled hypoxic transport induction in denuded arterial explants. These findings in arterial explants were recapitulated in rat cultured main pulmonary artery cells, including the enhancing effect of a soluble endothelium-derived factor(s) on hypoxic induction of [(14)C]SPD uptake in smooth muscle cells. Viewed collectively, these results show in intact lung tissue that hypoxia enhances polyamine transport in pulmonary artery smooth muscle by a mechanism requiring elaboration of an unknown factor(s) from endothelial cells.     

Pulmonary vasoconstriction in a canine model of neurogenic pulmonary edema

The intracisternal administration of veratrine to the chloralose-anesthetized dog produces pulmonary hypertension (PH) and neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE). To determine whether pulmonary vasoconstriction, mediated by a circulating agent, contributes to the PH, the left lower lung lobe (LLL) perfusion of seven splenectomized (to keep hematocrit and blood viscosity constant) dogs was isolated so the LLL could be perfused at constant flow and outflow pressure with blood pumped from the pulmonary artery. The LLL was denervated by removing it from the dog. Veratrine (40-160 micrograms/kg) increased LLL arterial pressure by 39.2% and produced large increases in plasma catecholamine concentrations. The double-occlusion technique indicated that 74% of the increase in the LLL arteriovenous pressure gradient was due to an increase in venous tone. This pattern of vasoconstriction was similar to that previously observed during the infusion of exogenous catecholamines and suggested that catecholamines mediated the LLL response. The more severe degree of PH observed in the intact animal in NPE, however, suggests that passive rather than active changes in pulmonary hemodynamics are predominantly responsible for the development of PH in this disorder.     

Direct demonstration of 25- and 50-microm arteriovenous pathways in healthy human and baboon lungs

Postmortem microsphere studies in adult human lungs have demonstrated the existence of intrapulmonary arteriovenous pathways using nonphysiological conditions. The aim of the current study was to determine whether large diameter (>25 and 50 microm) intrapulmonary arteriovenous pathways are functional in human and baboon lungs under physiological perfusion and ventilation pressures. We used fresh healthy human donor lungs obtained for transplantation and fresh lungs from baboons (Papio c. anubis). Lungs were ventilated with room air by using a peak inflation pressure of 15 cm H(2)O and a positive end-expiratory pressure of 5 cm H(2)O. Lungs were perfused between 10 and 20 cm H(2)O by using a phosphate-buffered saline solution with 5% albumin. We infused a mixture of 25- and 50-microm microspheres (0.5 and 1 million total for baboons and human studies, respectively) into the pulmonary artery and collected the entire pulmonary venous outflow. Under these conditions, evidence of intrapulmonary arteriovenous anastomoses was found in baboon (n = 3/4) and human (n = 4/6) lungs. In those lungs showing evidence of arteriovenous pathways, 50-microm microspheres were always able to traverse the pulmonary circulation, and the fraction of transpulmonary passage ranged from 0.0003 to 0.42%. These data show that intrapulmonary arteriovenous pathways >50 microm in diameter are functional under physiological ventilation and perfusion pressures in the isolated lung. These pathways provide an alternative conduit for pulmonary blood flow that likely bypasses the areas of gas exchange at the capillary-alveolar interface that could compromise both gas exchange and the ability of the lung to filter out microemboli.     

Pulmonary vascular reactivity in Fischer rats

We previously reported that Fischer (F) rat lungs developed more extensive injury when challenged with oxidants than age-matched Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat lungs. We now describe a reduced pulmonary vascular response to alveolar hypoxia and angiotensin II (ANG II) in F compared with SD rats. The comparative studies were performed with isolated lungs perfused with salt solution or blood, catheter-implanted awake rats, and isolated main pulmonary arterial rings. Isolated lungs from F rats perfused with either blood or salt solution had reduced vasoconstriction in comparison with lungs from SD rats when exposed to alveolar hypoxia or challenged with ANG II. Instrumented awake F rats had a smaller mean increase in total pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) than SD rats (35 vs. 94 mmHg.min.l-1, P less than 0.05) when challenged with 8% oxygen. The contractile response of isolated pulmonary artery but not thoracic aortic rings to KCl and ANG II was reduced in F compared with SD rats. In addition, F rats exposed to 4 wk of hypobaric hypoxia developed less pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy (when corrected for the hematocrit) than SD rats. We conclude that the oxidant stress-sensitive inbred F rat strain is characterized by a lung vascular bed that is relatively unresponsive to vasoconstricting stimuli. The mechanism underlying this genetic difference in lung vascular control remains to be defined.     

Production of oxygen free radicals by cardiac mitochondria: effect of hypoxia-reoxygenation

The effect of the duration of hypoxia on superoxide radical production in isolated rat heart mitochondria was studied by the spin trapping technique. 4,5-Dioxybenzene was used as a spin trap. Samples were placed into the cavity of an EPR spectrometer in thin-wall gas-permeable capillary tubes, which allowed keeping the suspension of mitochondria in aerobic or hypoxic conditions. Previously we have demonstrated that the rate of superoxide generation by mitochondria isolated from postischemic hearts depends radically on the duration of myocardial ischemia. By contrast, in mitochondria isolated from intact hearts, the effect did not depend on the duration of hypoxia. The rate of superoxide production by isolated mitochondria in the presence of antimycin A (a complex III Q-cycle inhibitor) and complex I or complex II substrates was 0.9 +/- 0.1 nmole O2*- /min/mg protein at 25 degrees C. Under reoxygenation conditions, after 10 min of hypoxia, the rate of superoxide production was considerably higher than before hypoxia. At the same time, after prolonged hypoxia, its value was practically the same as after 10-min hypoxia. The results enable the conclusion that isolated mitochondria are less sensitive to hypoxic conditions than mitochondria in ischemic heart.     

Hypoxia suppresses elastin repair by rat lung fibroblasts

Macrophage and neutrophil proteinases damage lung elastin, disrupting alveolar epithelium and filling alveoli with inflammatory exudate. Alveolar collapse and regional hypoxia occur. Whether low oxygen tension alters fibroblast-mediated lung repair is unknown. To determine the effect of chronic hypoxia on repair of enzyme-induced elastin disruption, primary rat lung fibroblasts produced elastin matrix for 5 wk before treatment with porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE). After exposure to PPE or saline, cultures recovered for 2 wk in normoxia (21% O(2)) or hypoxia (3% O(2)). Hypoxia suppressed regeneration of hot alkali-resistant elastin, achieving only 49% of the repair achieved in normoxic cultures. Vascular smooth muscle cells and lung fibroblasts repair elastin by two pathways: de novo synthesis and salvage repair. Although both pathways were affected, hypoxia predominantly inhibited de novo synthesis, decreasing formation of new elastin matrix by 63% while inhibiting salvage repair by only 36%. Prolonged hypoxia alone downregulated steady-state levels of elastin mRNA by 45%, whereas PPE had no significant effect on elastin gene expression. Electron microscopy documented preservation of intracellular organelles and intact nuclei. Together, these data suggest that regional hypoxia limits lung elastin repair following protease injury at least in part by inhibiting elastin gene expression.     

Time course of muscular blood metabolites during forearm rhythmic exercise in hypoxia

O2 concentration, PO2, PCO2, pH, osmolarity, lactate (LA), and hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations in deep forearm venous blood were repeatedly measured during submaximal exercise of forearm muscles. Concentrations of arterial blood gases were determined at rest and during exercise. Experiments were conducted under normoxia and hypobaric hypoxia (PB = 465 Torr). In arterial blood, data obtained during exercise were the same as those obtained during rest under either normoxia or hypoxia. In venous muscular blood, PO2 and O2 concentration were lower at rest and during exercise in hypoxia. The muscular arteriovenous O2 difference during exercise in hypoxia was increased by no more than 10% compared with normoxia, which implied that muscular blood flow during exercise also increased by the same percentage, if we assume that exercise O2 consumption was not affected by hypoxia. Despite increased [LA], the magnitude of changes in PCO2 and pH in hypoxia were smaller than in normoxia during exercise and recovery; this finding is probably due to the increased blood buffer value induced by the greater amount of reduced Hb in hypoxia. Hence all the changes occurring in hypoxia showed that local metabolism was less affected than we expected from the decrease in arterial PO2. The rise in [Hb] that occurred during exercise was lower in hypoxia. Possible underlying mechanisms of the [Hb] rise during exercise are discussed.     

The response of the rat liver to normobaric hypoxia stimulated in vivo and in vitro

The metabolic features of the rat liver were studied in artificial homeostasis conditions, using an isolated perfused organ as a model. The metabolism of the liver isolated from an intact rat and perfused with a normobaric hypoxic medium was compared with that of a liver that was isolated from a rat preliminarily kept in a chamber to simulate hypoxia of the total body and perfused using a medium with a normal oxygen content. The functional activity of the liver was assessed by portal pressure; oxygen consumption; and carbon dioxide gas, urea, glucose, and lactate contents in the perfusion medium. Metabolic changes in the perfused liver during oxygen deficiency became detectable at the same time point after exposure regardless of the method used to experimentally simulate hypoxia. This finding directly points to the metabolic autonomy of the liver.     

The effect of hypoxia on rat splanchnic prostanoid output

The effect of hypoxia on isolated perfused rat mesenteric basal venous prostanoid output was studied. Male rat splanchnic vasculature was removed without (SV) or with its end organ (SV + SI) and perfused with Krebs' buffer with a pO2 of 460 or 60 mm torr. Basal splanchnic venous effluent was assayed for 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, TxB2 and PGE by radioimmunoassay at 30, 60, 120 and 180 min of perfusion. Basal output of SV 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was five and ten fold higher than for PGE and TxB2 respectively and comprised 36% or greater of SV + SI 6-keto-PGF1 alpha output. SV PGE and TxB2 output comprised less than 19 and 12% respectively of SV + SI output. Hypoxia decreased SV + SI PG output, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha being most affected. Hypoxia did not alter SV 6-keto-PGF1 alpha output indicating the SI as the anatomic location most influenced by hypoxia. The relative amounts of distribution of PGE or TxB2 output were not altered by hypoxia. These data suggest that there are two distinct areas of splanchnic prostanoid output, the SV and the SI. Decreased 6-keto-PGF1 alpha output might alter splanchnic blood flow at two levels, the splanchnic vasculature, and/or within the bowel wall.     

Pulmonary vascular tone is increased by a voltage-dependent calcium channel potentiator

The mechanism of hypoxia-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction remains unknown. To explore the possible dependence of the hypoxic response on voltage-activated calcium (Ca2+) channels, the effects of BAY K 8644 (BAY), a voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel potentiator, were observed on the pulmonary vascular response to hypoxia of both the intact anesthetized dog and the perfused isolated rat lung. In six rat lungs given BAY (1 X 10(-6)M), hypoxia increased mean pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa) to 30.5 +/- 1.7 (SEM) Torr compared with 14.8 +/- 1.2 Torr for six untreated rat lungs (P less than 0.01). After nifedipine, the maximum Ppa during hypoxia fell 14.1 +/- 2.4 Torr from the previous hypoxic challenge in the BAY-stimulated rats (P less than 0.01). BAY (1.2 X 10(-7) mol/kg) given during normoxia in seven dogs increased pulmonary vascular resistance 2.5 +/- 0.3 to 5.0 +/- 1.2 Torr X 1(-1) X min (P less than 0.05), and systemic vascular resistance 55 +/- 4.9 to 126 +/- 20.7 Torr X 1(-1) X min (P less than 0.05). Systemic mean arterial pressure rose 68 Torr, whereas Ppa remained unchanged. Administration of BAY during hypoxia produced an increase in Ppa: 28 +/- 1.5 to 33 +/- 1.9 Torr (P less than 0.05). Thus BAY, a Ca2+ channel potentiator, enhances the hypoxic pulmonary response in vitro and in vivo. This, together with the effect of nifedipine on BAY potentiation, suggests that increased Ca2+ channel activity may be important in the mechanism of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction.     

Hypoxia and Exercise Increase the Transpulmonary Passage of 99mTc-Labeled Albumin Particles in Humans

Intrapulmonary arteriovenous anastomoses (IPAVs) are large diameter connections that allow blood to bypass the lung capillaries and may provide a route for right-to-left embolus transmission. These anastomoses are recruited by exercise and catecholamines and hypoxia. Yet, whether IPAVs are recruited via direct, oxygen sensitive regulatory mechanisms or indirect effects secondary to redistribution pulmonary blood flow is unknown. Here, we hypothesized that the addition of exercise to hypoxic gas breathing, which increases cardiac output, would augment IPAVs recruitment in healthy humans. To test this hypothesis, we measured the transpulmonary passage of ^99mTc-macroaggregated albumin particles (^99mTc-MAA) in seven healthy volunteers, at rest and with exercise at 85% of volitional max, with normoxic (FIO₂ = 0.21) and hypoxic (FIO₂ = 0.10) gas breathing. We found increased ^99mTc-MAA passage in both exercise conditions and resting hypoxia. However, contrary to our hypothesis, we found the greatest ^99mTc-MAA passage with resting hypoxia. As an additional, secondary endpoint, we also noted that the transpulmonary passage of ^99mTc-MAA was well-correlated with the alveolar-arterial oxygen difference (A-aDO₂) during exercise. While increased cardiac output has been proposed as an important modulator of IPAVs recruitment, we provide evidence that the modulation of blood flow through these pathways is more complex and that increasing cardiac output does not necessarily increase IPAVs recruitment. As we discuss, our data suggest that the resistance downstream of IPAVs is an important determinant of their perfusion.     

Control of ventilatory movements in the aquatic insect Corydalus comutus: central effect of hypoxia

ABSTRACT. The influence of hypoxia and hypercapnia on the ventilatory rhythm of the hellgrammite Corydalus cornutus L. (Megaloptera) was studied. In intact animals the frequency of rhythmic retractions and protractions of abdominal gills is increased by hypoxia (10% O₂, 90% N₂) but no ventilatory response is elicited by hypercapnia (1–5% CO₂, 20% O₂, 75–79% N₂).
The ventilatory motor pattern was examined by recording extracellularly from the gill retractor muscle or its efferent nerve. In response to hypoxia (8% 0₂, 92% N₂), there are decreases in the cycle-time, the interspike interval, and the burst length of the gill retractor motorneuron. In addition, previously quiescent motorneurons associated with gill protraction are recruited.
Individual ganglia or small groups of abdominal ganglia can be isolated both from the central ganglionic chain and from the periphery by selective cutting of roots and connectives. When exposed to hypoxia, preparations that include the first abdominal ganglion show characteristic changes in the ventilatory motor pattern similar to those in intact animals. Thus sensitivity to oxygen appears to be located centrally and not peripherally. In small animals (head width < 7 mm), abdominal ganglia 2–3 and 2–7 respond characteristically to hypoxia, but in larger animals (head width > 9 mm), chains of ganglia lacking abdominal ganglion 1 fail to respond. In larger animals oxygen sensitivity may thus be concentrated in abdominal ganglion 1, whereas in smaller animals the ability to initiate a ventilatory response to hypoxia is distributed among the abdominal ganglia.     

Adrenomedullin expression in a rat model of acute lung injury induced by hypoxia and LPS

Adrenomedullin (ADM) is upregulated independently by hypoxia and LPS, two key factors in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI). This study evaluates the expression of ADM in ALI using experimental models combining both stimuli: an in vivo model of rats treated with LPS and acute normobaric hypoxia (9% O2) and an in vitro model of rat lung cell lines cultured with LPS and exposed to hypoxia (1% O2). ADM expression was analyzed by in situ hybridization, Northern blot, Western blot, and RIA analyses. In the rat lung, combination of hypoxia and LPS treatments overcomes ADM induction occurring after each treatment alone. With in situ techniques, the synergistic effect of both stimuli mainly correlates with ADM expression in inflammatory cells within blood vessels and, to a lesser extent, to cells in the lung parenchyma and bronchiolar epithelial cells. In the in vitro model, hypoxia and hypoxia + LPS treatments caused a similar strong induction of ADM expression and secretion in epithelial and endothelial cell lines. In alveolar macrophages, however, LPS-induced ADM expression and secretion were further increased by the concomitant exposure to hypoxia, thus paralleling the in vivo response. In conclusion, ADM expression is highly induced in a variety of key lung cell types in this rat model of ALI by combination of hypoxia and LPS, suggesting an essential role for this mediator in this syndrome.     

Leukotriene C4 production during hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in isolated rat lungs

Leukotriene inhibitors preferentially inhibit hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in isolated rat lungs. If lipoxygenase products are involved in the hypoxic pressor response they might be produced during acute alveolar hypoxia and a leukotriene inhibitor should block both the vasoconstriction and leukotriene production that occurs in response to hypoxia. We investigated in isolated blood perfused rat lungs whether leukotriene C4 (LTC4) could be recovered from whole lung lavage fluid during ongoing hypoxic vasoconstriction. Lung lavage from individual rats had slow reacting substance (SRS)-like myotropic activity by guinea pig ileum bioassay. Pooled lavage (10 lungs) as analyzed by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography had an ultraviolet absorbing component at the retention time for LTC4. At radioimmunoassay, and SRS myotropic activity by bioassay. LTC4 was not found during normoxic ventilation, during normoxic ventilation after a hypoxic pressor response, or during vasoconstriction elicited by KCl. Diethylcarbamazine citrate, a leukotriene synthesis blocker, concomitantly inhibited the hypoxic vasoconstriction and LTC4 production. Thus 5-lipoxygenase products may play a role in the sequence of events leading to hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction.     

Comparative evaluation of sequestration of polyamines by perfused rabbit and rat lungs

Differences were observed in the sequestration of polyamines putrescine, spermidine and spermine by isolated, ventilated, perfused rat and rabbit lungs, former being able to accumulate more polyamines compared to the latter. Steady state equilibrium was reached earlier for spermine in rat. Isolated ventilated lungs were perfused with harmaline and ouabain, inhibitors known to inhibit the sodium pump at a maximum concentration of 1 mM for rabbit lungs and 0.4 and 0.2 mM for rat lungs, respectively. They did not affect the uptake of polyamines by rat lung but decreased the uptake of putrescine by rabbit lung. Decreased sodium (50 meq/L) in the perfusate increased the uptake of spermine and spermidine by rabbit lung but again showed no effect with rat lung. However, the uptake of polyamines by isolated ventilated rat and rabbit lungs perfused for 60 min with these compounds was linear over the entire range of high concentrations studied. These results suggest that the major uptake process of polyamines by intact lungs of both animal species is primarily by simple diffusion. HPLC analysis of the perfusate and lungs from both animal species post-perfusion indicated no detectable metabolites of the polyamines.     

Oxygen radicals and antioxidant enzymes alter pulmonary vascular reactivity in the rat lung

It has been postulated that changes in the availability of partially reduced O2 species, such as O2 radicals, could serve as a link between PO2 in the alveolus and pulmonary vascular tone (Herz 11: 127-141, 1986). To assess this hypothesis, the hemodynamic effects of acute changes in the balance between the production of O2 radicals and availability of antioxidant enzymes were studied in the isolated perfused rat lung. Intravascular generation of O2 radicals, by administration of xanthine-xanthine oxidase, decreased the pulmonary vascular pressor response to alveolar hypoxia (-55 +/- 5%) and angiotensin II (-58 +/- 10%, P less than 0.01 for each) in isolated perfused rat lungs without increasing the lung wet-to-dry weight ratio. Decreases in pulmonary vascular reactivity were inhibited by pretreatment of the lung with desferrioxamine or a mixture of catalase and superoxide dismutase. Catalase and superoxide dismutase preserved the hypoxic pressor response whether given in liposomes or in dissolved form. Superoxide dismutase administered free in solution, or combined with catalase in liposomes, increased the normoxic pulmonary arterial pressure and enhanced vascular reactivity to angiotensin II and hypoxia. Lungs treated with antioxidant enzymes in liposomes had 50% higher lung catalase levels than control lungs (P less than 0.05). These findings demonstrate that exogenous partially reduced O2 species can decrease pulmonary vascular reactivity and suggest that endogenous radicals, superoxide radical in particular, might be important in modulating pulmonary vascular tone.     

Pulmonary hemodynamics and lung water content during splanchnic ischemic shock

Pulmonary hemodynamics and lung water content were evaluated in open-chest dogs during splanchnic arterial occlusion (SAO) shock. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure [Ppa = 13.0 +/- 0.6 (SE) mmHg] and pulmonary venous pressure (4.1 +/- 0.2 mmHg) were measured by direct cannulation and the capillary pressure (Ppc = 9.0 +/- 0.6 mmHg) estimated by the double-occlusion technique. SAO shock did not produce a significant change in Ppa or Ppc despite a 90% decrease in cardiac output. An 18-fold increase in pulmonary vascular resistance occurred, and most of this increase (70%) was on the venous side of the circulation. No differences in lung water content between shocked and sham-operated dogs were observed. The effect of SAO shock was further evaluated in the isolated canine left lower lobe (LLL) perfused at constant flow and outflow pressure. The addition of venous blood from shock dogs to the LLL perfusion circuit caused a transient (10-15 min) increase in LLL arterial pressure (51%) that could be reversed rapidly with papaverine. In this preparation, shock blood produced either a predominantly arterioconstriction or a predominantly venoconstriction. These results indicate that both arterial and venous vasoactive agents are released during SAO shock. The consistently observed venoconstriction in the intact shocked lung suggests that other factors, in addition to circulating vasoactive agents, contribute to the pulmonary hemodynamic response of the open-chest shocked dog.