dinoprost and Hypoxia

Clinical trials use placebos with the assumption that they are inert, thus all placebos are considered to be equal. Here we show that this assumption is wrong and that different placebo procedures are associated to different therapeutic rituals which, in turn, trigger different mechanisms and produce different therapeutic outcomes. We studied high altitude, or hypobaric hypoxia, headache, in which two different placebos were administered. The first was placebo oxygen inhaled through a mask, whereas the second was placebo aspirin swallowed with a pill. Both placebos were given after a conditioning procedure, whereby either real oxygen or real aspirin was administered for three consecutive sessions to reduce headache pain. We found that after real oxygen conditioning, placebo oxygen induced pain relief along with a reduction in ventilation, blood alkalosis and salivary prostaglandin (PG)E2, yet without any increase in blood oxygen saturation (SO2). By contrast, after real aspirin conditioning, placebo aspirin induced pain relief through the inhibition of all the products of cyclooxygenase, that is, PGD2, PGE2, PGF2, PGI2, thromboxane (TX)A2, without affecting ventilation and blood alkalosis. Therefore, two different placebos, associated to two different therapeutic rituals, used two different pathways to reduce headache pain. The analgesic effect following placebo oxygen was superior to placebo aspirin. These findings show that different placebos may use different mechanisms to reduce high altitude headache, depending on the therapeutic ritual and the route of administration. In clinical trials, placebos and outcome measures should be selected very carefully in order not to incur in wrong interpretations.

Topics: Adult; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Epoprostenol; Female; Headache; Humans; Hypoxia; Male; Oxygen; Prostaglandin D2; Thromboxane A2

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease resulting from intermittent hypoxia (IH)-induced inflammation. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-formed prostanoids mediate the inflammatory response, and regulate blood pressure and cerebral blood flow (CBF), but their role in blood pressure and CBF responses to IH is unknown. Therefore, this study's objective was to determine the role of prostanoids in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular responses to IH.. Twelve healthy, male participants underwent three, 6-hour IH exposures. For 4 days before each IH exposure, participants ingested a placebo, indomethacin (nonselective COX inhibitor), or Celebrex(®) (selective COX-2 inhibitor) in a double-blind, randomized, crossover study design. Pre- and post-IH blood pressure, CBF, and urinary prostanoids were assessed. Additionally, blood pressure and urinary prostanoids were assessed in newly diagnosed, untreated OSA patients (n=33). Nonselective COX inhibition increased pre-IH blood pressure (P ≤ 0.04) and decreased pre-IH CBF (P=0.04) while neither physiological variable was affected by COX-2 inhibition (P ≥ 0.90). Post-IH, MAP was elevated (P ≤ 0.05) and CBF was unchanged with placebo and nonselective COX inhibition. Selective COX-2 inhibition abrogated the IH-induced MAP increase (P=0.19), but resulted in lower post-IH CBF (P=0.01). Prostanoids were unaffected by IH, except prostaglandin E2 was elevated with the placebo (P=0.02). Finally, OSA patients had elevated blood pressure (P ≤ 0.4) and COX-1 formed thromboxane A2 concentrations (P=0.02).. COX-2 and COX-1 have divergent roles in modulating vascular responses to acute and chronic IH. Moreover, COX-1 inhibition may mitigate cardiovascular and cerebrovascular morbidity in OSA.. www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01280006.

Topics: Adult; Blood Pressure; Celecoxib; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Cross-Over Studies; Cyclooxygenase 1; Cyclooxygenase 2; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Double-Blind Method; Epoprostenol; Female; Heart Rate; Humans; Hypoxia; Indomethacin; Male; Middle Aged; Pyrazoles; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive; Sulfonamides; Thromboxane A2

Relationships between exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and serum cytokines and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in patients with excessive daytime sleepiness and loud snoring were evaluated for their potential to predict the severity of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).. Non-smoking patients with suspected OSAS who had undergone polysomnography (PSG) were selected until 22 non-OSAS, and 22 mild, 22 moderate and 24 severe OSAS cases based on AHI were achieved. Ten healthy smokers served as a smoker control group. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and 8-isoprostane were measured in EBC and serum on the morning after PSG and related to OSAS severity using linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and logistic regression (LR).. Biomarker levels, in both EBC and serum, differed significantly across the four groups. Classification by LDA using IL-10 in EBC showed the highest agreement with AHI classification (kappa=0.88). LR distinguished moderate and severe OSAS from mild OSAS and non-OSAS perfectly using IL-6 in EBC and almost perfectly using IL-10 in EBC (area under the ROC curve=0.997). The levels of biomarkers among smokers overlapped with mild to severe OSAS patients.. Among non-smoker OSAS suspects, EBC IL-6 and IL-10 have potential to predict severity of OSAS.

Topics: Adult; Biomarkers; Breath Tests; Cytokines; Dinoprost; Female; Humans; Hypoxia; Interleukin-10; Interleukin-6; Male; Middle Aged; Oxidative Stress; Predictive Value of Tests; Respiratory Function Tests; Severity of Illness Index; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Both hypoxia and hyperoxia have major effects on cardiovascular function. However, both states affect ventilation and many previous studies have not controlled CO(2) tension. We investigated whether hemodynamic effects previously attributed to modified O(2) tension were still apparent under isocapnic conditions. In eight healthy men, we studied blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), cardiac index (CI), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) and arterial stiffness (augmentation index, AI) during 1 h of hyperoxia (mean end-tidal O(2) 79.6 +/- 2.0%) or hypoxia (pulse oximeter oxygen saturation 82.6 +/- 0.3%). Hyperoxia increased SVRI (18.9 +/- 1.9%; P < 0.001) and reduced HR (-10.3 +/- 1.0%; P < 0.001), CI (-10.3 +/- 1.7%; P < 0.001), and stroke index (SI) (-7.3 +/- 1.3%; P < 0.001) but had no effect on AI, whereas hypoxia reduced SVRI (-15.2 +/- 1.2%; P < 0.001) and AI (-10.7 +/- 1.1%; P < 0.001) and increased HR (18.2 +/- 1.2%; P < 0.001), CI (20.2 +/- 1.8%; P < 0.001), and pulse pressure (13.2 +/- 2.3%; P = 0.02). The effects of hyperoxia on CI and SVRI, but not the other hemodynamic effects, persisted for up to 1 h after restoration of air breathing. Although increased oxidative stress has been proposed as a cause of the cardiovascular response to altered oxygenation, we found no significant changes in venous antioxidant or 8-iso-prostaglandin F(2alpha) levels. We conclude that both hyperoxia and hypoxia, when present during isocapnia, cause similar changes in cardiovascular function to those described with poikilocapnic conditions.

Topics: Adaptation, Physiological; Adult; Antioxidants; Blood Flow Velocity; Blood Pressure; Carbon Dioxide; Cardiac Output; Cross-Over Studies; Dinoprost; Female; Heart; Heart Rate; Humans; Hyperoxia; Hypoxia; Male; Middle Aged; Oxidative Stress; Oxygen; Single-Blind Method; Time Factors; Vascular Resistance

Topics: Adipose Tissue; Biomarkers; Cytokines; Dinoprost; Gene Expression Profiling; Humans; Hypoxia; Lipectomy; Oxidative Stress; Oxygen; Up-Regulation

It is widely hypothesized that menstrual pain is triggered by prostaglandin synthesis that evokes high-pressure uterine contractions and ischemia. However, the effects of molecules implicated in menstrual pain on uterine contractility, perfusion, and oxygenation in vivo have been rarely demonstrated. Studies in women that do not respond to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have reported elevated levels of platelet-activating factor (PAF). To establish in vivo evidence of PAF's capability to impair uterine homeostasis and to elicit visceral pain, we examined the effects of the PAF receptor agonist (carbamyl PAF [CPAF]) in comparison to other molecules hypothesized to play a role in uterine pain in mice. Uterine pressure was increased by oxytocin, prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), and CPAF. Even in the absence of inflammatory molecules, uterine contractions reduced uterine oxygenation by 38%. CPAF reduced uterine perfusion by 40% ± 8% and elicited further oxygen desaturation approaching hypoxia (9.4 ± 3.4 mm Hg Pao

Topics: Animals; Dinoprost; Female; Hyperalgesia; Hypoxia; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Oxytocin; Perfusion; Platelet Activating Factor; Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; Uterine Contraction; Uterus; Visceral Pain

Infants with lung disease may be exposed to high O

Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Antioxidants; Cell Hypoxia; Dinoprost; Hyperoxia; Hypoxia; Mitochondria; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle; NADPH Oxidases; Oxidative Stress; Pulmonary Artery; Superoxide Dismutase; Swine

We studied the expression of Hif-1α, Nf-κb, and Vegf genes in the liver and serum levels of HIF-1α, erythropoietin, VEGF, TGF-β, 8-isoprostane, and corticosterone in Wistar rats with different resistance to hypoxia in 5 and 90 min after acute exposure to hypobaric hypoxia. In 5 min after hypoxic exposure, Hif-1α expression in the liver and serum levels of erythropoietin, VEGF, and TGF-β in high-resistant rats were higher than in low-resistant animals. In highresistant rats, the increment in expression of Nf-κb gene responsible for the control over the inflammatory processes was more pronounced than in low-resistant animals. In 90 min after hypoxic exposure, the serum levels of HIF-1α, erythropoietin, VEGF, and TGF-β returned to normal in high-resistant rats, while in low-resistant animals, an increase in 8-isoprostane and TGF-β concentrations was observed. The rats with different resistance to hypoxia were characterized by different changes in biomolecular parameters determining predilection to inflammatory diseases.

Topics: Animals; Corticosterone; Dinoprost; Erythropoietin; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation; Hypoxia; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; Inflammation; Liver; Male; NF-kappa B; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Transforming Growth Factor beta1; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

High altitude is the most intriguing natural laboratory to study human physiological response to hypoxic conditions. In this study, we investigated changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress biomarkers during exposure to hypobaric hypoxia in 16 lowlanders. Moreover, we looked at the potential relationship between ROS related cellular damage and optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) as an indirect measurement of intracranial pressure. Baseline measurement of clinical signs and symptoms, biological samples and ultrasonography were assessed at 262 m and after passive ascent to 3830 m (9, 24 and 72 h). After 24 h the imbalance between ROS production (+141%) and scavenging (-41%) reflected an increase in oxidative stress related damage of 50-85%. ONSD concurrently increased, but regression analysis did not infer a causal relationship between oxidative stress biomarkers and changes in ONSD. These results provide new insight regarding ROS homeostasis and potential pathophysiological mechanisms of acute exposure to hypobaric hypoxia, plus other disease states associated with oxidative-stress damage as a result of tissue hypoxia.

Topics: Adult; Altitude Sickness; Antioxidants; Dinoprost; Female; Humans; Hypoxia; Intracranial Hypertension; Intracranial Pressure; Male; Middle Aged; Myelin Sheath; Optic Nerve; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidative Stress; Reactive Oxygen Species; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; Ultrasonography

An increase in the H2 S (hydrogen sulphide, hereafter sulphide) concentration in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) has been proposed to mediate hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV). We evaluated this hypothesis in isolated rat intrapulmonary arteries (IPAs) by examining the effects of the sulphide precursor cysteine and sulphide-synthesis blockers on HPV and also on normoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (NPV) stimulated by prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α ) and by the drug LY83583, which causes contraction in IPAs by increasing cellular reactive oxygen species levels. Experiments with several blockers of cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE), the enzyme responsible for sulphide synthesis in the vasculature, demonstrated that propargylglycine (PAG, 1 mm) had little or no effect on the NPV caused by PGF2α or LY83583. Conversely, other CSE antagonists tested, aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA, 100 μm), β-cyanoalanine (BCA, 500 μm) and hydroxylamine (HA, 100 μm), altered the NPV to PGF2α (BCA increased, HA inhibited) and/or LY83583 (BCA increased, AOAA and HA inhibited). Preincubating IPAs in physiological saline solution (PSS) containing 1 mm cysteine increased the amplitude of the NPV to PGF2(α) by ∼50%, and had a similar effect on HPV elicited by hypoxic challenge with 0% O2 . The enhancement of both responses by cysteine was abolished by pretreatment with 1 mm PAG. Measurements carried out with an amperometric electrode demonstrated that incubation with 1 mm cysteine under anoxic conditions (to minimize sulphide oxidation) greatly potentiated the release of sulphide from pieces of rat liver and that this release was strongly antagonized by PAG, indicating that at this concentration PAG could enter cells intact and antagonize CSE. PAG at 1 mm had no effect on HPV recorded in control PSS, or in PSS supplemented with physiological concentrations of cysteine (10 μm), cystine (50 μm) and glutamate (100 μm) in order to prevent the possible depletion of intracellular cysteine during experiments. Application of a combination of 1 mm cysteine and 1 mm α-ketoglutarate to promote sulphide synthesis via the cysteine aminotransferase/mercaptopyruvate sulphurtransferase (CAT/MST) pathway caused an increase in HPV similar to that observed for cysteine. This was partially blocked by the CAT antagonist aspartate (1 mm) and also by PAG. However, HPV was not increased by 1 mm α-ketoglutarate alone, and HPV in the absence of α-ketoglutarate and cysteine was not attenuated by aspartate.

Topics: Animals; Cystathionine gamma-Lyase; Cysteine; Dinoprost; Enzyme Inhibitors; Hydrogen Sulfide; Hypoxia; Male; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Pulmonary Artery; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sulfurtransferases; Vasoconstriction

Inflammation and altered immunity are recognized components of severe pulmonary arterial hypertension in human patients and in animal models of PAH. While eicosanoid metabolites of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways have been identified in the lungs from pulmonary hypertensive animals their role in the pathogenesis of severe angioobliterative PAH has not been examined. Here we investigated whether a cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor or diethylcarbamazine (DEC), that is known for its 5-lipoxygenase inhibiting and antioxidant actions, modify the development of PAH in the Sugen 5416/hypoxia (SuHx) rat model. The COX-2 inhibitor SC-58125 had little effect on the right ventricular pressure and did not prevent the development of pulmonary angioobliteration. In contrast, DEC blunted the muscularization of pulmonary arterioles and reduced the number of fully obliterated lung vessels. DEC treatment of SuHx rats, after the lung vascular disease had been established, reduced the degree of PAH, the number of obliterated arterioles and the degree of perivascular inflammation. We conclude that the non-specific anti-inflammatory drug DEC affects developing PAH and is partially effective once angioobliterative PAH has been established.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase; Arterioles; Cyclooxygenase 2; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; Diethylcarbamazine; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Humans; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Hypoxia; Inflammation; Leukotriene D4; Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; Lung; Male; Prostaglandins F; Pulmonary Artery; Pyrazoles; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Thromboxane B2; Ventricular Function, Right

Hypoxia-induced coronary vasorelaxation is a compensatory mechanism increasing blood flow. We hypothesized that hypoxia shares pathways with adenosine and causes vasorelaxation through the adenosine A(2A) receptor and force suppression by increasing cAMP and phosphorylated heat shock protein (HSP)20. Adenosine receptors in porcine left anterior descending coronary arteries (LAD) were examined by RT-PCR and isometric tension recording in myographs. Vasorelaxation was induced by adenosine, 1% oxygen, or both in the absence or presence of ZM241385, an adenosine A(2A) receptor antagonist. cAMP was determined by ELISA and p-HSP20/HSP20 and p-MLC/MLC were determined by immunoblotting and densitometric analyses. In coronary arteries exposed to 1% oxygen, there was increased sensitivity to adenosine, the adenosine A2 selective agonist NECA, and the adenosine A(2A) selective receptor agonist CGS21680. ZM241385 shifted concentration-response curves for CGS21680 to the right, whereas the adenosine A1 antagonist DPCPX, the adenosine A2B receptor antagonist MRS1754 and the adenosine A3 receptor antagonist MRS1523 failed to reduce vasodilatation induced by CGS21680. 1% oxygen or adenosine increased cAMP accumulation and HSP20 phosphorylation without changing T850-MYPT1 and MLC phosphorylation. ZM241385 failed to change 1% oxygen-induced vasodilation, cAMP accumulation, HSP20 phosphorylation and MLC phosphorylation. The PKA inhibitor Rp-8-CPT-cAMPS significantly reduced vasorelaxation induced by 1% oxygen or CGS21680. Our findings suggest that the increased sensitivity to adenosine, NECA, and CGS21680 at 1% oxygen involves adenosine A(2A) receptors. Adenosine and 1% oxygen induce vasorelaxation in PGF2α-contracted porcine coronary arteries partly by force suppression caused by increased cAMP and phosphorylation of HSP20.

Topics: Adenosine; Adenosine-5'-(N-ethylcarboxamide); Animals; Coronary Vessels; Cyclic AMP; Dinoprost; HSP20 Heat-Shock Proteins; Hypoxia; In Vitro Techniques; Oxygen; Phenethylamines; Purinergic P1 Receptor Agonists; Purinergic P1 Receptor Antagonists; Receptors, Purinergic P1; Swine; Triazines; Triazoles; Vasodilation

Extremely low gestational age neonates (ELGANs) requiring oxygen therapy often experience frequent episodes of intermittent hypoxia (IH) and are at high risk for severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Using an established model for oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR), we examined the hypothesis that there is a critical number of daily brief IH episodes which will result in irreversible retinal oxidative damage.. Newborn rats were exposed to increasing daily clustered IH episodes (12% O₂ with 50% O₂) from postnatal day (P) 0 to P7 or P0 to P14, or placed in room air (RA) until P21 following 7- or 14-day IH. RA littermates at P7, P14, and P21 served as controls. A group exposed to constant 50% O₂ (CH) served as a second control. Blood gases, eye opening at P14, retinal, and choroidal oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation (8-isoPGF(2α)), oxidants (H₂O₂) and antioxidants (catalase and SOD), retinal pathology (adenosine diphosphatase (ADPase)-stained retinal flatmounts), and mitochondria-related genes were assessed.. pO₂ levels were higher with increasing IH episodes and remained elevated during the reoxygenation period. High SO₂ levels were associated with most severe OIR. Levels of all measured biomarkers peaked with six IH episodes and decreased with 8 to 12 episodes. H₂O₂ accumulated in the choroid during the reoxygenation period with irreversible retinal damage.. Our data suggest that six is the maximum number of IH episodes that the retina can sustain. Accumulation of H₂O₂ in the choroid may result in high levels being delivered to the entire retina, ultimately resulting in irreversible retinal oxidative damage.

Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Blood Gas Analysis; Catalase; Choroid; Dinoprost; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Hydrogen Peroxide; Hypoxia; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Oxidative Stress; Oxygen; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; Pregnancy; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Retinopathy of Prematurity; Risk Factors; Superoxide Dismutase

Chronic liver diseases are commonly associated with tissue hypoxia that may cause inflammation, oxidative stress, liver cell injury and increased nuclear transcriptional regulation. The hepatic response to chronic hypoxia at the molecular level has not yet been clearly understood until now. The aim of this study is to investigate whether nuclear transcription factors [hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1α), activator protein-1 (AP-1), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)] exhibit activity changes during hepatic response to chronic hypoxia. Blood and liver samples were collected from adult Sprague-Dawley rats living in atmospheric air or 10% oxygen for four weeks. Levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), 8-isoprostane and nitrotyrosine were measured. The activities of nuclear transcription factors and the expression of downstream genes (iNOS, eNOS, ET-1 and VEGF) were measured using RT-PCR, Western blotting and Gel shift analysis. Results showed that serum ALT level, 8-isoprostane level and formation of nitrotyrosine were within normal range at all time-points. In the hypoxic liver, DNA-binding activities of HIF-1α, NF-κB and AP-1 increased significantly. Expression levels of iNOS, VEGF and ET-1 progressively increased from day 7 to day 28. eNOS was also elevated in the hypoxic liver. In conclusion, our study suggests that increased activity of HIF-1α, AP-1 and NF-κB may partly play a significant role in the hepatic response to oxidative stress and liver injury under chronic hypoxia. The increased expression of VEGF, ET-1, iNOS and eNOS may be partly due to the compensatory mechanism in the vascular beds of the liver in response to chronic hypoxia.

Topics: Alanine Transaminase; Animals; Biomarkers; Blotting, Western; Chronic Disease; Dinoprost; Disease Models, Animal; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; Endothelin-1; Gene Expression Regulation; Hypoxia; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; Liver; Male; NF-kappa B; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; Oxidative Stress; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Time Factors; Transcription Factor AP-1; Tyrosine; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

HAPE (high-altitude pulmonary oedema) is characterized by pulmonary hypertension, vasoconstriction and an imbalance in oxygen-sensing redox switches. Excess ROS (reactive oxygen species) contribute to endothelial damage under hypobaric hypoxia, hence the oxidative-stress-related genes CYBA (cytochrome b-245 α polypeptide) and GSTP1 (glutathione transferase Pi 1) are potential candidate genes for HAPE. In the present study, we investigated the polymorphisms -930A/G and H72Y (C/T) of CYBA and I105V (A/G) and A114V (C/T) of GSTP1, individually and in combination, in 150 HAPE-p (HAPE patients), 180 HAPE-r (HAPE-resistant lowland natives) and 180 HLs (healthy highland natives). 8-Iso-PGF2α (8-iso-prostaglandin F2α) levels were determined in plasma and were correlated with individual alleles, genotype, haplotype and gene-gene interactions. The relative expression of CYBA and GSTP1 were determined in peripheral blood leucocytes. The genotype distribution of -930A/G, H72Y (C/T) and I105V (A/G) differed significantly in HAPE-p compared with HAPE-r and HLs (P≤0.01). The haplotypes G-C of -930A/G and H72Y (C/T) in CYBA and G-C and G-T of I105V (A/G) and A114V (C/T) in GSTP1 were over-represented in HAPE-p; in contrast, haplotypes A-T of -930A/G and H72Y (C/T) in CYBA and A-C of I105V (A/G) and A114V (C/T) in GSTP1 were over-represented in HAPE-r and HLs. 8-Iso-PGF2α levels were significantly higher in HAPE-p and in HLs than in HAPE-r (P=2.2×10(-16) and 1.2×10(-14) respectively) and the expression of CYBA and GSTP1 varied differentially (P<0.05). Regression analysis showed that the risk alleles G, C, G and T of -930A/G, H72Y (C/T), I105V (A/G) and A114V (C/T) were associated with increased 8-iso-PGF2α levels (P<0.05). Interaction between the two genes revealed over-representation of most of the risk-allele-associated genotype combinations in HAPE-p and protective-allele-associated genotype combinations in HLs. In conclusion, the risk alleles of CYBA and GSTP1, their haplotypes and gene-gene interactions are associated with imbalanced oxidative stress and, thereby, with high-altitude adaptation and mal-adaptation.

Topics: Altitude Sickness; Dinoprost; Epistasis, Genetic; Gene Frequency; Genotype; Glutathione S-Transferase pi; Haplotypes; Humans; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Hypoxia; Linkage Disequilibrium; NADPH Oxidases; Oxidative Stress; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Regression Analysis

African Americans develop hypertension earlier with more target manifestations than whites despite having a higher glomerular filtration rate (GFR) for any level of serum creatinine. STUDY DESIGN & PARTICIPANTS: This study tested the hypothesis that increased GFR and sodium reabsorption in African Americans is associated with increased metabolic work and medullary hypoxia in 49 nondiabetic patients with essential hypertension (29 whites and 20 African Americans) following a constant-sodium diet (150 mEq/d) and renin-angiotensin system blockade.. Ethnicity, age, measured GFR, sodium excretion, and body mass index.. We examined cortical and medullary volumes and blood flows using multidetector computed tomography and intrarenal deoxyhemoglobin (R2*) using blood oxygen level-dependent magnetic resonance.. Blood pressure and sodium excretion were similar, whereas African Americans were more obese and had higher iothalamate GFRs. Renal cortical volumes did not differ, but medullary volumes adjusted for body size and age were higher in African Americans (32.3 ± 11.2 vs 25.1 ± 7.4 cm(3)/m(2) body surface area; P < 0.001). Sodium reabsorption and blood flows were higher in African Americans. Basal cortical deoxyhemoglobin values were similar between ethnic groups, whereas medullary R2* was higher in African Americans (39.7 ± 5.1 vs 36.3 ± 6.5/s; P = 0.02), but decreased to levels similar to whites after furosemide treatment. Levels of the circulating isoprostane prostaglandin F(2α) were higher in African Americans and daily urinary prostaglandin F(2α) excretion in African Americans correlated directly with renal blood flow (R = 0.71; P < 0.01).. Studies were limited to treated volunteers with normal kidney function without knowledge of prior nutrient intake.. These data show for the first time that increased sodium reabsorption in obese African American patients with hypertension was associated with enlarged medullary volumes, functional hypoxia related to solute reabsorption, and a direct relationship between blood flows and urinary isoprostane levels. Our results support a model of increased oxygen consumption and oxidative stress in African Americans that may accelerate hypertension and target-organ injury compared with white patients with essential hypertension.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Black or African American; Blood Pressure; Comorbidity; Dinoprost; Diuretics; Furosemide; Glomerular Filtration Rate; Humans; Hypertension; Hypoxia; Kidney Medulla; Middle Aged; Obesity; Organ Size; Sodium; Sodium, Dietary; White People

To study oxidative stress differences between women with normal vaginal deliveries (VD) and those with elective cesarean sections without labor (CS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, 8-isoprostane, nitrotyrosine and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in blood, urine, and placental samples were assessed. The VD group had significantly higher placental 8-isoprostane and 8-OHdG levels as well as greater plasma TAC and 8-OHdG levels and lower erythrocyte SOD activity in umbilical venous blood. Women with VD exhibited differential changes in maternal oxidative stress before and after delivery compared with women with CS. Furthermore, we found that repetitive hypoxia-reoxygenation increased the 8-isoprostane and 8-OHdG levels in villous explants compared with the normoxic controls. Together, these results indicate that labor is associated with increased placental oxidative stress and has an influence on maternal oxidative stress. Therefore, women with VD exhibit different oxidative stress indicators than do those with CS.

Topics: 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; Adult; Antioxidants; Cesarean Section; Delivery, Obstetric; Dinoprost; Erythrocytes; Female; Glutathione Peroxidase; Guanine; Humans; Hypoxia; Labor, Obstetric; Oxidative Stress; Placenta; Pregnancy; Superoxide Dismutase; Umbilical Veins

Few studies have assessed the effects of stress on in vivo platelet activation. In the present study, hypobaric hypoxia induced by rapid decompression during high-altitude simulated flight in a hypobaric chamber was used to evaluate the effects of environmental stress on salivary cortisol and urinary thromboxane metabolite (TXM) excretion, a noninvasive marker of in vivo platelet function. Twenty-one male aviators (mean ± SD age = 36 ± 7 years) experiencing hypoxia by removing their oxygen mask for 4-5 min during a simulated flight to 25,000 ft (7,620 m; pO(2) = 59.17 mmHg) and a matched control group of thirteen flying instructors wearing oxygen masks during the challenge, were studied. Hypobaric hypoxia induced a transient significant increase (P < 0.001) in the aviators' salivary cortisol concentration; the overall pattern of diurnal cortisol fluctuation was maintained in both groups. Urinary TXM showed a significant ∼30% reduction (P < 0.01) after the chamber session in aviators exposed to hypobaric hypoxia, but not in controls. A significant inverse correlation was found between salivary cortisol and urinary TXM in aviators (r = - 0.64, P = 0.0015). Salivary cortisol was a significant predictor (P < 0.001) for urinary TXM concentrations in aviators. In conclusion, here we observed that an acute stress-induced salivary cortisol increase was associated with reduced urinary thromboxane biosynthesis, providing the first indirect evidence for an inhibitory effect of acute stress on in vivo platelet function.

Topics: Adult; Altitude Sickness; Dinoprost; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Hypoxia; Male; Saliva; Stress, Physiological; Thromboxane B2

The systemic vascular response to hypoxia is vasodilation. However, reports suggest that the potent vasoconstrictor endothelin-1 (ET-1) is released from the vasculature during hypoxia. ET-1 is reported to augment superoxide anion generation and may counteract nitric oxide (NO) vasodilation. Moreover, ET-1 was proposed to contribute to increased vascular resistance in heart failure by increasing the production of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). We investigated the role of ET-1, the NO pathway, the potassium channels and radical oxygen species in hypoxia-induced vasodilation of large coronary arteries.. In prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α, 10 μM)-contracted segments with endothelium, gradual lowering of oxygen tension from 95 to 1% O2 resulted in vasodilation. The vasodilation to O2 lowering was rightward shifted in segments without endothelium at all O2 concentrations except at 1% O2. The endothelin receptor antagonist SB217242 (10 μM) markedly increased hypoxic dilation despite the free tissue ET-1 concentration in the arterial wall was unchanged in 1% O2 versus 95% O2. Exogenous ET-1 reversed hypoxic dilation in segments with and without endothelium, and the hypoxic arteries showed an increased sensitivity towards ET-1 compared to the normoxic controls. Without affecting basal NO, hypoxia increased NO concentration in PGF2α-contracted arteries, and an NO synthase inhibitor, L-NOARG,(300 μM, NG-nitro-L-Arginine) reduced hypoxic vasodilation. NO-induced vasodilation was reduced in endothelin-contracted preparations. Arterial wall ADMA concentrations were unchanged by hypoxia. Blocking of potassium channels with TEA (tetraethylammounium chloride)(10 μM) inhibited vasodilation to O2 lowering as well as to NO. The superoxide scavenger tiron (10 μM) and the putative NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin (10 μM) leftward shifted concentration-response curves for O2 lowering without changing vasodilation to 1% O2. PEG (polyethylene glycol) catalase (300 u/ml) inhibited H2O2 vasodilation, but failed to affect vasodilation to O2 lowering. Neither did PEG-SOD (polyethylene glycol superoxide dismutase)(70 u/ml) affect vasodilation to O2 lowering. The mitochondrial inhibitors rotenone (1 μM) and antimycin A (1 μM) both inhibited hypoxic vasodilatation.. The present results in porcine coronary arteries suggest NO contributes to hypoxic vasodilation, probably through K channel opening, which is reversed by addition of ET-1 and enhanced by endothelin receptor antagonism. These latter findings suggest that endothelin receptor activation counteracts hypoxic vasodilation.

Topics: Animals; Coronary Vessels; Dinoprost; Endothelin-1; Hypoxia; Models, Animal; Nitric Oxide; Oxygen; Potassium Channels; Reactive Oxygen Species; Swine; Vasodilation

The human endometrium has an exceptional capacity for repeated repair after menses, but its regulation remains undefined. Premenstrually, progesterone levels fall and prostaglandin (PG) F₂α synthesis increases, causing spiral arteriole constriction. We hypothesized that progesterone withdrawal, PGF₂α, and hypoxia increase vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an endometrial repair factor.. Endometrial biopsies were collected (n = 47) with ethical approval and consent. VEGF mRNA, quantified by quantitative RT-PCR, was increased during menstruation (P < 0.01).VEGF protein was maximally secreted from proliferative endometrial explants. Treatment of an endometrial epithelial cell line and primary human endometrial stromal cells with 100 nm PGF₂α or hypoxia (0.5% O₂) resulted in significant increases in VEGF mRNA and protein. VEGF was maximal when cells were cotreated with PGF(2α) and hypoxia simultaneously (P < 0.05-0.001). Secretory-phase endometrial explants also showed an increase in VEGF with cotreatment (P < 0.05). However, proliferative-phase explants showed no increase in VEGF on treatment with PGF₂α and/or hypoxia. Proliferative tissue was induced to increase VEGF mRNA expression when exposed to progesterone and its withdrawal in vitro but only in the presence of hypoxia and PG. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) silencing with RNA interference suppressed hypoxia-induced VEGF expression in endometrial cells but did not alter PGF₂α-induced VEGF expression.. Endometrial VEGF is increased at the time of endometrial repair. Progesterone withdrawal, PGF₂α, and hypoxia are necessary for this perimenstrual VEGF expression. Hypoxia acts via HIF-1α to increase VEGF, whereas PGF₂α acts in a HIF-1α-independent manner. Hence, two pathways regulate the expression of VEGF during endometrial repair.

Topics: Adult; Biopsy; Cells, Cultured; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Dinoprost; Endometrium; Estradiol; Female; Hormone Antagonists; Humans; Hypoxia; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; Indomethacin; Menstrual Cycle; Middle Aged; Mifepristone; Progesterone; Regeneration; RNA, Messenger; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Young Adult

This study investigates the role of the cyclooxygenase (COX)/prostanoid pathway in chronic hypoxia-induced hyperreactivity of pulmonary arteries.. Pulmonary arteries were removed from normoxic or hypoxic (0.5 atm for 21 days) mice and studied for protein expression/localization of COX-1, COX-2, and thromboxane A2 (TXA2)-synthase, release of TXA2, prostacyclin (PGI2) and the isoprostane 8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha (8-iso-PGF2alpha), and vasomotor responses. COX-2 expression was increased in all layers of pulmonary arteries from hypoxic mice. In contrast, COX-1 expression was not significantly modified following chronic hypoxia, whereas TXA2-synthase was decreased. Chronic hypoxia differentially affected prostanoid release from pulmonary arteries: TXA2 secretion was not significantly modified; PGI2 secretion was decreased, whereas 8-iso-PGF2alpha secretion was increased. A selective COX-2 inhibitor decreased 8-iso-PGF2alpha release. Arachidonic acid elicited an endothelium- and COX-1-dependent relaxation in pulmonary arteries from normoxic mice. In contrast, arachidonic acid induced an endothelium-independent contraction in pulmonary arteries from hypoxic mice that was partially reduced by catalase, COX-1, COX-2, or TXA2-synthase inhibitors and was totally abolished by blockade of the thromboxane (TP) receptor. Hyperresponsiveness to phenylephrine (PE) of pulmonary arteries from hypoxic mice was also decreased by COX-2 inhibitors, TP receptor antagonists or catalase, but not by TXA2-synthase inhibitors. Finally, 8-iso-PGF2alpha induced a TP receptor-dependent contraction in pulmonary arteries and markedly potentiated the contractile response to PE.. Chronic hypoxia up-regulates COX-2 expression, increases 8-iso-PGF2alpha release, and shifts arachidonic acid-induced, endothelium-dependent relaxation to an endothelium-independent and TP receptor-dependent contraction in pulmonary arteries. COX-2-dependent production of 8-iso-PGF2alpha, by activating TP receptors, participates in hypoxia-induced hyperreactivity of pulmonary arteries.

Topics: Animals; Arachidonic Acid; Cyclooxygenase 2; Dinoprost; Hypoxia; Isoprostanes; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Phenylephrine; Pulmonary Artery; Receptors, Thromboxane; Vasoconstriction

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by recurrent apnea during sleep that may unbalance oxidative stress, increasing atherosclerosis. Among oxidative stress markers, 15-F(2t)-isoprostane is considered one of the most sensitive and specific metabolites of lipid peroxidation. To explore the relationship between urinary 15-F(2t)-isoprostane with sleep apnea severity and carotid modifications in nonobese OSA patients, 31 nonobese sleep apnea patients were studied, along with 10 lean subjects without OSA. Patients were assessed by polysomnography, blood pressure measurement, and ultrasonography to determine the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). Urinary 15-F(2t)-isoprostanes were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Urinary 15-F(2t)-isoprostane concentrations were increased in severe OSA patients compared to control subjects (20.2+/-7.3 vs 12.3+/-2.8 ng/mmol creatinine; P=0.020). Mean carotid IMT was correlated with 15-F(2t)-isoprostane (r=0.532; P<0.001) and with the apnea-hypopnea index (r=0.345; P=0.029). 15-F(2t)-Isoprostane level was related to the night time spent at SaO(2)<90% (r=0.478; P=0.002), the apnea-hypopnea index (r=0.465; P=0.003), and the mean nocturnal SaO(2) (r=-0.424; P=0.007). These results showed a relationship between lipid peroxidation, carotid intima-media thickness, and intermittent hypoxia in nonobese OSA patients, thus reinforcing the hypothesis that oxidative stress could be involved in the early atherosclerotic process.

Topics: Adult; Atherosclerosis; Blood Pressure; Creatinine; Dinoprost; Female; Humans; Hypoxia; Isoprostanes; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Middle Aged; Oxidative Stress; Oxygen; Polysomnography; Sleep Apnea Syndromes; Tunica Intima; Tunica Media

Colforsin, a water-soluble forskolin derivative, directly activates adenylate cyclase and thereby increases the 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) level in vascular smooth muscle cells. In this study, we investigated the vasodilatory action of colforsin on structurally remodeled pulmonary arteries from rats with pulmonary hypertension (PH).. A total of 32 rats were subjected to hypobaric hypoxia (380 mmHg, 10% oxygen) for 10 days to induce chronic hypoxic PH, while 39 rats were kept in room air. Changes in isometric force were recorded in endothelium-intact (+E) and -denuded (-E) pulmonary arteries from the PH and control (non-PH) rats.. Colforsin-induced vasodilation was impaired in both +E and -E arteries from PH rats compared with their respective controls. Endothelial removal did not influence colforsin-induced vasodilation in the arteries from control rats, but attenuated it in arteries from PH rats. The inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthase did not influence colforsin-induced vasodilation in +E arteries from controls, but attenuated it in +E arteries from PH rats, shifting its concentration-response curve closer to that of -E arteries from PH rats. Vasodilation induced by 8-bromo-cAMP (a cell-permeable cAMP analog) was also impaired in -E arteries from PH rats, but not in +E arteries from PH rats, compared with their respective controls.. cAMP-mediated vasodilatory responses without beta-adrenergic receptor activation are impaired in structurally remodeled pulmonary arteries from PH rats. In these arteries, endothelial cells presumably play a compensatory role against the impaired cAMP-mediated vasodilatory response by releasing NO (and thereby attenuating the impairment). The results suggest that colforsin could be effective in the treatment of PH.

Topics: 8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate; Animals; Chronic Disease; Colforsin; Dinoprost; Drug Synergism; Fluorescent Dyes; Fura-2; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular; Hypoxia; In Vitro Techniques; Isometric Contraction; Male; Muscle Contraction; Potassium Chloride; Pulmonary Artery; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Vasodilation; Vasodilator Agents

Delta-opioid receptor (DOR) is an oxygen-sensitive protein whose function in the rat retina is unknown. We examined whether DOR is involved in hypoxic preconditioning (HPC)-mediated retinoprotection following intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation. Rats were exposed to intermittent hypoxia (10% oxygen) to induce HPC. Unilateral retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury was induced by elevating IOP to 100 mmHg for 1 h. HPC attenuated the loss of neuronal marker expression and increased pro-apoptotic caspase 3 activity in the IOP retina. Excess superoxide production and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha accumulation caused by enhanced oxidant protein expression and reduced antioxidant enzyme level after IOP elevation were largely abrogated by HPC. HPC markedly increased the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and DOR, but intravitreal administration of HIF-1alpha-specific small interfering RNA abrogated the up-regulation of DOR. This suggested that DOR functions downstream of HIF-1alpha. However, the endogenous content of leucine enkephalin in retinas was not affected by HPC or IOP. Treatment of retinas with the DOR antagonist naltrindole attenuated the HPC-induced protection and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase. These results suggest a novel mechanism of HPC-mediated retinoprotection whereby HIF-1alpha induces the expression of DOR, and DOR-mediated activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase triggers cellular events that correct the redox imbalance in the post-ischemic retina.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Blotting, Western; Dinoprost; Enkephalin, Leucine; Hypoxia; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; Immunohistochemistry; Intraocular Pressure; Ischemic Preconditioning; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Oxidative Stress; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, Opioid, delta; Retina; Retinal Vessels; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Small Interfering; Signal Transduction; Spectrometry, Fluorescence; Superoxides

Hypoxia plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of a multitude of diseases and clinical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, pulmonary disease, inflammation, organ transplant, and wound healing. Investigations into the role of hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF) in disease development have been conducted with the basic premise that HIF is activated in vivo during hypoxia in humans, yet this basic physiologic premise has never verified. Thus, we hypothesized that HIF-1 DNA binding would be enhanced in vivo in humans in response to acute global hypoxia. Fourteen human subjects were exposed to normoxia (1600 m) and hypoxia (4300 m, approximately 12% O(2)) in a hypobaric hypoxic chamber (8 h). HIF-1 DNA binding and HIF-1alpha protein were evaluated in circulating leukocytes. Oxidative markers were evaluated by plasma metabolomics using nuclear magnetic resonance and by urinary 15-F(2t)-isoprostane concentrations. Leukocyte HIF-1 DNA binding was increased (p=0.007) and HIF-1alpha was greater during hypoxia compared to normoxia. Circulating total glutathione was reduced by 35% (p=0.001), and lactate and succinate were increased by 29 and 158%, respectively (p=0.007 and 0.001), as were urinary 15-F(2t)-isoprostanes (p=0.037). HIF-1 DNA binding and HIF-1alpha were elevated in vivo in leukocytes of healthy human subjects exposed to 12% oxygen, in association with plasma and urinary markers of hypoxic stress.

Topics: Adult; Altitude; Biomarkers; Dinoprost; DNA; Female; Free Radicals; Glutathione; Heart Rate; Humans; Hypoxia; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; Lactic Acid; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Male; Metabolomics; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; Oxidative Stress; Protein Binding; Succinic Acid

We investigated the influence of oxygenation of in vitro lung preparation on the pulmonary vascular reactivity. Small pulmonary vessels isolated from adult male Wistar rats exposed for 4 days to hypoxia (F(iO2) = 0.1, group CH) were compared with those of normoxic controls (group N). The bath in the chamber of small vessel myograph was saturated with gas mixture containing either 21% or 95% of O(2) with 5% CO(2) and we measured the reactions of vessels to acute hypoxic challenge with 0% O(2) or to PGF(2alpha). We did not observe any difference of the contractile responses between both groups when the normoxic conditions were set in the bath. When the bath oxygenation was increased to 95% O(2), the contractions induced by hypoxic challenge and PGF(2alpha) decreased in chronically hypoxic rats and did not change in normoxic controls. We hypothesize that reduced reactivity of vessels from hypoxic rats in hyperoxia results from the effect of chronic hypoxia on Ca(2+) signaling in the vascular smooth muscle, which is modulated by increased free radical production during the exposure to chronic hypoxia and further hyperoxia.

Topics: Animals; Calcium Signaling; Chronic Disease; Dinoprost; Hyperoxia; Hypoxia; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Myography; Pulmonary Artery; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Vasoconstriction; Vasoconstrictor Agents

Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction is a vital homeostatic mechanism that aids ventilation-perfusion matching in the lung, for which the underlying mechanism(s) remains controversial. However, our most recent investigations strongly suggest that hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction is precipitated, at least in part, by the inhibition of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation by hypoxia, an increase in the AMP/ATP ratio and consequent activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Unfortunately, these studies lacked the definitive proof that can only be provided by selectively blocking AMPK-dependent signalling cascades. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to determine the effects of the AMPK inhibitor compound C upon: (1) phosphorylation in response to hypoxia of a classical AMPK substrate, acetyl CoA carboxylase, in rat pulmonary arterial smooth muscle and (2) hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in rat isolated intrapulmonary arteries. Acetyl CoA carboxylase phosphorylation was increased approximately 3 fold in the presence of hypoxia (pO(2) = 16-21 mm Hg, 1 h) and 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide riboside (AICAR; 1 mM; 4 h) and in a manner that was significantly attenuated by the AMPK antagonist compound C (40 microM). Most importantly, pre-incubation of intrapulmonary arteries with compound C (40 microM) inhibited phase II, but not phase I, of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. Likewise, compound C (40 microM) inhibited constriction by AICAR (1 mM). The results of the present study are consistent with the activation of AMPK being a key event in the initiation of the contractile response of pulmonary arteries to acute hypoxia.

Topics: Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase; Aminoimidazole Carboxamide; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; Animals; Calcium; Dinoprost; Hypoxia; Male; Multienzyme Complexes; Phosphorylation; Potassium; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; Pulmonary Artery; Pyrazoles; Pyrimidines; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Ribonucleotides; Signal Transduction; Vasoconstriction

Xanthine oxidase (XO)-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation contributes to experimental chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in adults, but its role in neonatal pulmonary hypertension has received little attention. In rats chronically exposed to hypoxia (13% O(2)) for 14 days from birth, we examined the effects of ROS scavengers (U74389G 10 mg.kg(-1).day(-1) or Tempol 100 mg.kg(-1).day(-1) ip) or a XO inhibitor, Allopurinol (50 mg.kg(-1).day(-1) ip). Both ROS scavengers limited oxidative stress in the lung and attenuated hypoxia-induced vascular remodeling, confirming a critical role for ROS in this model. However, both interventions also significantly inhibited somatic growth and normal cellular proliferation in distal air spaces. Hypoxia-exposed pups had evidence of increased serum and lung XO activity, increased vascular XO-derived superoxide production, and vascular nitrotyrosine formation. These changes were all prevented by treatment with Allopurinol, which also attenuated hypoxia-induced vascular remodeling and partially reversed inhibited endothelium-dependent arterial relaxation, without affecting normal growth and proliferation. Collectively, our findings suggest that XO-derived superoxide induces endothelial dysfunction, thus impairing pulmonary arterial relaxation, and contributes to vascular remodeling in hypoxia-exposed neonatal rats. Due to the potential for adverse effects on normal growth, targeting XO may represent a superior "antioxidant" strategy to ROS scavengers for neonates with pulmonary hypertension.

Topics: Acetylcholine; Allopurinol; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Cell Proliferation; Chronic Disease; Cyclic N-Oxides; Dinoprost; Free Radical Scavengers; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular; Hypoxia; In Vitro Techniques; Lung; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; Organ Size; Oxidative Stress; Pregnatrienes; Pulmonary Artery; Rats; Reactive Oxygen Species; Spin Labels; Superoxides; Time Factors; Xanthine Oxidase

Insufficient tissue oxygenation is a likely contribution to weak, inco-ordinate human uterine contractile activity characteristic of prolonged, dysfunctional labour. However, the direct effects of hypoxia on human myometrial contractility has, surprisingly, not yet been detailed. Therefore, we report the influence of hypoxia on spontaneous and agonist-induced carbachol, prostaglandin (PGF2alpha), and oxytocin contractions of myometria from nonpregnant and pregnant women.. Uterine biopsies were obtained from pregnant women at term undergoing elective Caesarean section and nonpregnant women undergoing hysterectomy. Myometrial strips were equilibrated at 37 degrees C in normoxic physiological salt solution (95% air/5% CO(2)) and the influence of hypoxia (95% N(2)/5% CO(2)) on contractility was investigated.. Hypoxia resulted in a significant reduction in spontaneous contractile function; nonpregnant tissue was less resistant to the deleterious effects of hypoxia. Agonist-induced contractions, while being more resistant to hypoxia than spontaneous contractions, were also significantly inhibited. In myometria of pregnant women the PGF2alpha- or oxytocin-induced contractility was more resistant to hypoxia than carbachol. Finally, the inhibitory actions of hypoxia were exacerbated with repeated oxytocin administration with a more severe effect on contractile integral than on initial phasic contraction amplitude.. We detail, for the first time, the effects of hypoxia on contractility of human myometria from nonpregnant and pregnant women. Physiologically important uterotonic agents are more resistant to the effects of hypoxia than spontaneous contractions although repeated stimulation with oxytocin during hypoxia results in progressively less force. The results indicate that if significant hypoxia occurs in vivo then it is a likely contributory factor to the pathways underlying prolonged dysfunctional labour.

Topics: Adult; Carbachol; Cesarean Section; Cholinergic Agonists; Dinoprost; Female; Humans; Hypoxia; Hysterectomy; Middle Aged; Oxygen; Oxytocics; Oxytocin; Parturition; Pregnancy; Tissue Culture Techniques; Uterine Contraction

The mechanisms through which p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) is involved in smooth muscle contraction remain largely unresolved. We examined the role of p38 MAPK in prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGF(2alpha))-induced vasoconstriction and in hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) of rat small intrapulmonary arteries (IPA). The p38 MAPK inhibitors SB-203580 and SB-202190 strongly inhibited PGF(2alpha)-induced vasoconstriction, with IC(50)s of 1.6 and 1.2 microM, whereas the inactive analog SB-202474 was approximately 30-fold less potent. Both transient and sustained phases of HPV were suppressed by SB-203580, but not by SB-202474 (both 2 microM). Western blot analysis revealed that PGF(2alpha) (20 microM) increased phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27), and this was abolished by SB-203580 but not by SB-202474 (both 2 microM). Endothelial denudation or blockade of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase with N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) significantly suppressed the relaxation of PGF(2alpha)-constricted IPA by SB-203580, but not by SB-202474. Similarly, the inhibition of HPV by SB-203580 was prevented by prior treatment with L-NAME. SB-203580 (2 microM), but not SB-202474, enhanced relaxation-induced by the NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) in endothelium-denuded IPA constricted with PGF(2alpha). In alpha-toxin-permeabilized IPA, SB-203580-induced relaxation occurred in the presence but not the absence of the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP); SB-202474 was without effect even in the presence of SNP. In intact IPA, neither PGF(2alpha)- nor SNAP-mediated changes in cytosolic free Ca(2+) were affected by SB-203580. We conclude that p38 MAPK contributes to PGF(2alpha)- and hypoxia-induced constriction of rat IPA primarily by antagonizing the underlying Ca(2+)-desensitizing actions of NO.

Topics: Animals; Calcium; Calcium Signaling; Constriction, Pathologic; Dinoprost; Enzyme Inhibitors; Heat-Shock Proteins; HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins; Hypoxia; Male; Muscle Contraction; Neoplasm Proteins; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; Organ Culture Techniques; Oxytocics; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Phosphorylation; Pulmonary Artery; Rats; Rats, Wistar

Chronic hypoxia causes redistribution of fetal cardiac output by mechanisms poorly understood. We tested the hypothesis that chronic hypoxia alters vascular reactivity of arteries from near-term fetal guinea pigs.. Pregnant guinea pigs (50 days, term = 65 days) were exposed to either normoxia (room air) or hypoxia (12% O2) for 14 days. Carotid artery ring segments from anesthetized fetuses were mounted onto myographs for measurement of force. Contractile responses to cumulative addition of prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha, 10(-9) M to 10(-5) M), U46619, a thromboxane mimetic (10(-12) M to 12(-6) M), and KCl (10 to 120 mM) were measured in the presence and absence of INDO (INDO, 10(-5) M) alone and INDO plus nitro-L-arginine (LNA, 10(-4) M), or INDO plus N6-iminoethyl-L-lysine (LNIL, 5 x 10(-5) M, a selective iNOS inhibitor), and measured in endothelium-intact and denuded arteries. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity was measured in isolated arteries by 14C-L-arginine to 14C-L-citrulline conversion.. Hypoxia decreased contractile responses to both PGF2alpha and U46619 under control conditions. Maximal contraction to both agonists was increased in hypoxemic arteries after INDO alone and INDO + LNA compared to normoxic controls. Endothelium-denudation abolished the differences between the groups. KCl contraction was unaffected by hypoxia. LNIL potentiated maximal PGF(2alpha) contraction but was similar between groups. Hypoxia increased (P < .05) total and Ca(2+)-dependent NOS activities by 1.7- and 2.1-fold, respectively, but had no effect on Ca(2+)-independent activity.. Chronic hypoxia alters vascular reactivity of fetal carotid arteries by increasing the contribution of both vasodilator prostaglandins and nitric oxide and suggests that changes in local vascular mechanisms may be altered by chronic hypoxia.

Topics: 15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid; Animals; Arteries; Calcium; Carotid Arteries; Dinoprost; Endothelium, Vascular; Female; Fetal Weight; Guinea Pigs; Hypoxia; Muscle Contraction; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Potassium Chloride; Pregnancy; Prostaglandins; Vasoconstrictor Agents

Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction is an essential mechanism to prevent hypoxaemia in lung diseases. Insulin is known to be a systemic vasodilator but its effect on the pulmonary circulation is not known. Inhaled particulate insulin can generate locally high concentrations in the lung which could be physiologically important.. We therefore studied the effects of insulin in vitro on isolated rat pulmonary artery in a small vessel myograph.. We have shown that pulmonary artery vasodilatation with insulin occurs in a dose-dependent manner. Pre-constriction with PGF2alpha can be abolished (105.7+/-2.9%, mean+/-SEM) and pre-constriction with hypoxia reduced (68.9+/-6.5%) by pharmacologically relevant concentrations of insulin. The characteristic phasic vasoconstriction by pulmonary vessel to hypoxia is substantially modified, resulting in sustained vasodilatation.. These effects could be clinically important for patients using inhaled insulins who have acute or occult chronic lung disease.

Topics: Animals; Dinoprost; Hypoxia; Insulin; Male; Muscle Contraction; Pulmonary Artery; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Vasodilation

Chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension results partly from proliferation of smooth muscle cells in small peripheral pulmonary arteries. Therefore, we examined the effect of hypoxia on growth of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) from human distal pulmonary arteries. Initial studies identified that serum-induced proliferation of explant-derived PASMCs was inhibited under hypoxic conditions (3-4 kPa in medium). However, selection of hypoxia-stimulated cells was achieved by culturing cells at low density under conditions of prolonged hypoxia (1-2 wk). In hypoxia-inhibited and -stimulated cells, Western blotting revealed hypoxic induction of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, which was dependent on the activation of p38(MAPK), but not COX-1, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), or hemoxygenase-1 (HO-1). Hypoxic induction of COX-2 was also observed in the media of pulmonary arteries in lung organ culture. Hypoxia induced a 4- to 5-fold increase (P < 0.001) in prostaglandin (PG)E(2), PGD(2), PGF(2alpha), and 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) release from PASMCs. Hypoxic inhibition of proliferation was attenuated by incubation with indomethacin (10 micro M), or the COX-2 antagonist, NS398 (10 micro M), but not by the COX-1 antagonist, valeryl salicylate (0.5 mM). In conclusion, we have isolated cells from human peripheral pulmonary arteries that are either inhibited or stimulated by culture under hypoxic conditions. In both cell types hypoxia modulates cell proliferation by induction of COX-2 and production of antiproliferative prostaglandins. Induction of COX-2 may contribute to the inhibition of hypoxia-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling.

Topics: 6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; Cell Division; Cells, Cultured; Cyclooxygenase 2; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Humans; Hypoxia; Isoenzymes; Membrane Proteins; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Prostaglandin D2; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; Pulmonary Artery

The evaluation of the role of critical hypoxia in unexplained fetal death in utero has been hampered by the lack of a physiological marker. Here we report the novel observation that feto-placental hypoxemia is an acute trigger for increased activin secretion from the feto-placental unit in late pregnancy. Hypoxemia was induced in chronically cannulated late pregnant fetal sheep by restricting blood flow through the maternal uterine arteries. Using maternal and fetal blood samples and amniotic fluid obtained via chronically implanted catheters, fetal blood gas parameters, plasma and amniotic fluid concentrations of activin A, prostaglandin (PG) E(2) and PGFM, the circulating metabolite of PGF(2alpha), were determined before, during and after a ten hour period of fetal hypoxemia. Hypoxemia acutely increased activin A and PGE(2) levels in both amniotic fluid and the fetal circulation with values rapidly returning to baseline with normoxemia. PGFM also increased in both compartments with a relatively delayed time frame compared to that of activin A and PGE(2). The increase in activin A and PGE(2) induced by hypoxemia may be a mechanism to regulate feto-placental blood flow during fetal compromise and also offers the possibility that activin A represents a useful marker of feto-placental hypoxemia.

Topics: Activins; Amniotic Fluid; Animals; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Female; Fetal Blood; Hypoxia; Inhibins; Placenta; Pregnancy; Sheep

Sustained hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction is dependent upon the presence of an intact endothelium, strongly suggesting that an endothelium-derived constrictor factor is involved in this response. In the present study we have attempted to determine whether hypoxia induces the release of a vasoconstrictor(s) from the lung, and whether this vasoconstrictor shares mechanistic features with the hypoxic constrictor response.. The salt-perfused rat lung, coupled with a simple solid-phase extraction process, and a rat intrapulmonary artery functional bioassay were utilised in this study.. Hypoxic, but not normoxic, perfusion of the isolated lung of the rat induced the release of a vasoconstrictor(s) which appeared to be selective for pulmonary over mesenteric arteries of the rat. The vasoconstriction observed was unaffected by inhibition of voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels, and was not associated with a rise in intracellular [Ca(2+)], suggesting Ca(2+)-sensitisation of the contractile apparatus. The vasoconstriction was also unaffected by the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor Ro-31-8220, or the endothelin-1 antagonists BQ123/BQ788 but was markedly potentiated in the presence of prostaglandin F(2alpha).. We conclude that hypoxic perfusion of the rat lung results in the release of a vasoconstrictor(s) which shares some of the facets of the sustained hypoxic constriction of isolated intrapulmonary arteries of the rat, since it involves PKC-independent Ca(2+) sensitisation, is independent of voltage-gated Ca(2+) entry, and is potentiated by the presence of preconstriction.

Topics: Acetonitriles; Animals; Calcium; Dinoprost; Endothelin-1; Enzyme Inhibitors; Hypoxia; Indoles; Ion Channel Gating; Lung; Male; Organ Culture Techniques; Protein Kinase C; Pulmonary Artery; Rats; Vasoconstriction; Vasoconstrictor Agents

In intrapulmonary arteries cultured under hypoxic conditions (5% oxygen) for 7 days, endothelium-dependent relaxation and cGMP accumulation induced by substance P were decreased as compared to those of a normoxic control (20% oxygen). In rabbit mesenteric arteries exposed to chronic hypoxia, however, endothelial dysfunction was not observed. Furthermore, in endothelium-denuded pulmonary arteries exposed to hypoxia, neither relaxation nor cGMP accumulation due to sodium nitroprusside differed from those of the normoxic control. Hypoxia did not change the mRNA expression of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), the protein expression of eNOS or the eNOS regulatory protein caveolin-1 as assessed by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or whole-mount immunostaining. Morphological study revealed atrophy of endothelial cells and condensation of the eNOS protein in many cells. These results suggest that chronic hypoxia impaired NO-mediated arterial relaxation without changing either the eNOS protein expression or the NO-sensitivity of smooth muscle cells in pulmonary arteries. Changes in cell structure and organization may be involved in endothelial dysfunction.

Topics: Animals; Arginine; Biopterins; Caveolin 1; Caveolins; Cyclic GMP; Dinoprost; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Endothelium, Vascular; Hypoxia; Ionomycin; Male; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; Nitroprusside; Organ Culture Techniques; Pulmonary Artery; Rabbits; RNA, Messenger; Substance P; Superoxide Dismutase; Vasoconstriction; Vasodilation; Vasodilator Agents

Despite increasing evidence supporting the involvement of neutrophils in ischemic and postischemic damages, the mechanisms underlying the early recruitment of these cells are not completely understood. In this report, the effects of conditioned media from hypoxic endothelial cells on neutrophil chemotaxis were investigated by biochemical and morphological studies. We showed that conditioned media collected from several endothelial cell origins submitted to hypoxia as well as ischemic rat liver perfusion liquids have a chemotactic activity for neutrophils. The role of various chemoattractant molecules like HETEs, platelet-activating factor, and cytokines such as interleukin-8 and interleukin-1 was examined in the same model. Chemotactic peptide contribution was ruled out as boiled conditioned media still trigger chemotaxis. However, cell treatment with cyclooxygenase inhibitors, neutralization of PGF(2alpha) biological activity with polyclonal antibodies, and the neutrophil preincubation with a specific PGF(2alpha) antagonist, all dramatically inhibited neutrophil chemotaxis. A strong chemoattractant effect of pure exogenous PGF(2alpha) or of a synthetic analog was also observed. The major effect of PGF(2alpha) on neutrophil chemotaxis was confirmed ex vivo in a rat liver perfusion ischemic model. These results suggest that PGF(2alpha), a prostanoid abundantly released by the endothelium of hypoxic or ischemic tissues, is a chemoattractant molecule that might be involved in the early recruitment of neutrophils in ischemic organs.

Topics: Animals; Cells, Cultured; Chemotactic Factors; Culture Media, Conditioned; Dinoprost; Endothelium, Vascular; Female; Humans; Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids; Hypoxia; Interleukin-1; Interleukin-8; Ischemia; Liver Circulation; Neutrophil Infiltration; Prostaglandin Antagonists; Prostaglandins F; Rats; Rats, Wistar

BN 80933, a dual inhibitor of neuronal nitric oxide synthase and lipid peroxidation, prevents in vivo brain ischemic/reperfusion injury. In the present study, BN 80933 was shown to protect neurons from hypoxia-induced cell death in primary cultures of cortical neurons. BN 80933 prevented lactate dehydrogenase activity elevation induced by hypoxia, displaying an IC50 value of 0.15 +/- 0.05 microM. This effect was likely due to the antioxidant properties of BN 80933 because Trolox, but not NG-nitro-L-arginine, also elicited protection. The antioxidant property of BN 80933 was then further investigated on HT-22 cells subjected to buthionine sulfoximine- or glutamate-induced glutathione depletion. The relative order of potency of the various compounds to inhibit oxidative stress-induced neuronal death (BN 80933 > U104067 > butylated hydroxytoluene > 17beta-estradiol > Trolox > vitamin E) correlated with their ability to inhibit brain membrane lipid peroxidation (correlation coefficient = 0.939). BN 80933 afforded protection even when added 6 h after glutamate exposure. BN 80933 did not reverse intracellular glutathione depletion but prevented elevation of the level of beta-epiprostaglandin F2alpha (8-isoprostane), which appeared to be a delayed phenomenon. In conclusion, BN 80933 induces a potent cytoprotection that may be mediated by inhibition of delayed lipid peroxidation.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Cell Line; Cerebral Cortex; Dinoprost; Enzyme Inhibitors; F2-Isoprostanes; Glutathione; Hypoxia; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; Lipid Peroxides; Neurons; Neuroprotective Agents; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; Oxidative Stress; Pyrazines; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Thiophenes

We studied the role of nitric oxide in the regulation of pulmonary arterial tone and hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. Rat pulmonary arteries (n=65, diameter=440+/-12 microm) were loaded to 17.5 mm Hg in a wire myograph and incubated with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N-gamma-nitro-L-argine methyl ester (L-NAME; 1, 10 or 100 microM) or distilled water (50 microl) prior to preconstriction with either 100 microM prostaglandin F(2 alpha) followed by acetylcholine (0.1-100 microM) or 5 microM prostaglandin F(2 alpha) followed by hypoxia. Concentrations of L-NAME (10 and 100 microM) which attenuated acetylcholine dilatation, elevated basal tone from 0. 2+/-0.5% to 9.4+/-2.1% (P<0.01) and 18.3+/-3.2% (P<0.001), respectively, potentiated contraction to 5 microM prostaglandin F(2 alpha) from 35.9+/-3.1% to 56.2+/-6.8% (P<0.05) and 66.4+/-5.8% (P<0.001), respectively, but had no significant effect on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. This suggests basal pulmonary nitric oxide release occurs, as well as in response to agonist-induced contraction, but not hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction.

Topics: Animals; Dinoprost; Enzyme Inhibitors; Hypoxia; Male; Muscle Tonus; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; Pulmonary Circulation; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Vasoconstriction

To investigate the mechanisms involved in hypoxic vasodilation using an in vitro setup.. Retinal arteries with and without retinal tissue were mounted on a wire myograph. The segments were contracted with prostaglandin (PG)F(2alpha) (30 microM) or 120 mM K(+). Hypoxia was induced by replacement of O(2) by N(2) in the gas used to bubble the Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate organ bath solution.. Hypoxia induced complete relaxation of preparations with adherent retinal tissue contracted with PGF(2alpha). Preparations without retinal tissue were not affected by the change in oxygenation. When the retinal arteries were contracted with 120 mM K(+), hypoxia no longer induced relaxation of the preparation with adherent retinal tissue. The presence of an NO-synthase inhibitor (L-NA, 0.1 mM), a cyclooxygenase inhibitor (indomethacin, 50 microM), or an adenosine receptor antagonist (8-sulfophenyltheophylline, 1 mM) did not affect hypoxic vasodilation. Excitatory amino acids and lactate had no or only a limited effect on the PGF(2alpha)-induced contraction and are therefore unlikely mediators of hypoxic vasodilation. HCl (10 mM) reduced the pH to 6.1 +/- 0.08 (n = 4) and induced a pronounced but transient relaxation of the retinal artery contracted with PGF(2alpha) or 120 mM K(+), whereas hypoxia induced relaxation of the retinal artery contracted with PGF(2alpha) only in the presence of adherent retinal tissue.. Adherent retinal tissue mediates the hypoxic vasodilatation of bovine retinal arteries in vitro. Neither NO, prostanoids, adenosine, excitatory amino acids lactate or changes in pH seem to be involved in this hypoxic response.

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Dinoprost; Electromyography; Eye Proteins; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Hypoxia; Indomethacin; Muscle Proteins; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitroarginine; Purinergic P1 Receptor Antagonists; Retina; Retinal Artery; Theophylline; Vasodilation

Interest surrounds the role of an NADPH oxidase-like enzyme in hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV). We have studied the effects of the NADPH oxidase inhibitors iodonium diphenyl (ID) and cadmium sulphate (CdSO4) upon HPV of isolated rat pulmonary arteries (n = 73, internal diameter 545 +/- 23 microm). Vessels were preconstricted with prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha, 0.5 or 5 microM) prior to a hypoxic challenge. ID (10 or 50 microM), CdSO4 (100 microM) or vehicle (50 microl) was added for 30 min before re-exposure to PGF2alpha and hypoxia. ID and CdSO4 significantly inhibited HPV. In vessels preconstricted with 5 microM PGF2alpha, ID (10 and 50 microM) reduced HPV from 37.4 +/- 5.6 % to 9.67 +/- 4.4 % of the contractile response elicited by 80 mM KCl (P<0.05) and from 30.1 +/- 5.0 % to 0.63 +/- 0.6% 80 mM KCl response (P<0.01), respectively. CdSO4 (100 microM) reduced HPV from 29.4 +/-4.0 % to 17.1 +/- 2.2% 80 mM KCl response (P<0.05). In vessels preconstricted with 0.5 microM PGF2alpha, ID (10 and 50 microM) reduced HPV from 16.0 +/- 3.15% to 3.36 +/- 1.44 % 80 mM KCl response (P<0.01) and from 15.0 +/- 1.67 % to 2.82 +/- 1.40 % 80 mM KCl response (P<0.001), respectively. Constriction to PGF2alpha was potentiated by ID. ID and CdSO4, at concentrations previously shown to inhibit neutrophil NADPH oxidase, attenuate HPV in isolated rat pulmonary arteries. This suggests that an NADPH oxidase-like enzyme is involved in HPV and could act as the pulmonary oxygen sensor.

Topics: Animals; Biphenyl Compounds; Cadmium Compounds; Dinoprost; Enzyme Inhibitors; Hypoxia; In Vitro Techniques; Male; NADPH Oxidases; Onium Compounds; Pulmonary Artery; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sulfates; Vasoconstriction; Vasoconstrictor Agents

Chronic hypoxia is associated with altered pulmonary vasoreactivity, and it has been suggested that an increased response to voltage-dependent vasodilators may relate to enhanced Ca++ entry via voltage-dependent channels, secondary to depolarization. Few studies have been performed on small pulmonary arteries, and it is unknown whether they are depolarized after chronic hypoxia. We examined the resting membrane potential, and the actions of voltage-dependent (verapamil, levcromakalim) and -independent (isoproterenol, forskolin, papaverine) vasodilators in small ( approximately 300 microm internal diameter) pulmonary arteries from chronically hypoxic rats. The resting membrane potential was more positive in arteries after chronic hypoxia (control: -60 +/- 0.5 mV; hypoxic: -54.4 +/- 1.1 mV; P < .01), and this was reflected by a shift to the left of the response curves for K+ and 4-aminopyridine. In arteries constricted with prostaglandin F2alpha the response to verapamil and levcromakalim was increased after chronic hypoxia, although maximum prostaglandin F2alpha-induced tension was unchanged, which implies a reduction in voltage-independent constrictor mechanisms. Although vasorelaxation to isoproterenol was depressed in arteries from hypoxic rats, forskolin-induced relaxation was enhanced substantially, and because the response to the phosphodiesterase inhibitor papaverine was unchanged, we suggest that this reflects an up-regulation of adenylate cyclase. In conclusion, chronic hypoxia resulted in a significant depolarization in small pulmonary arteries, but this may explain only partly the increased efficacy of voltage-dependent vasodilators. Whether the reduction in voltage-independent constrictor mechanisms is related to the apparent up-regulation of adenylate cyclase remains to be elucidated.

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Cromakalim; Dinoprost; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Heart Ventricles; Hematocrit; Hypoxia; Isoproterenol; Male; Membrane Potentials; Papaverine; Potassium Channel Blockers; Pulmonary Artery; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Vasodilation; Vasodilator Agents; Verapamil

The NADPH oxidase inhibitor, diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), is known to selectively inhibit hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) in isolated rat and rabbit lungs. We have investigated whether DPI has similar effects in rat pulmonary arteries in vitro. Vessels (n=38, internal diameters 327+/-41 microM) were mounted in an automated myograph and preconstricted with prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha, 5 microM) before an acute hypoxic challenge. The effects of DPI (10 microM), or the vehicle DMSO, were studied on the first contractile phase of HPV. DPI (10 microM) was found to significantly inhibit HPV; 1.83+/-0.42 mN/mm (pre-DPI) compared to 0.11+/-0.22 mN/mm (post-DPI,P<0.01). However, the vehicle DMSO (0.2%) also resulted in a reduction of HPV, although this was significantly different from inhibition via DPI (P<0.05), implying a DPI-sensitive component. The effects of DPI (0.1-300 microM) were also studied on the second contractile phase of HPV. DPI (300 microM) caused a significant reversal of 45% (0.50-0.27 mN/mm) compared to 9% reversal (0.38-0.35 mN/mm) seen with DMSO (P<0.0001). The fact that an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase, the enzyme responsible for producing reactive oxygen species from oxygen, attenuated the pulmonary vascular response to hypoxia, may indicate that this, or a similar, enzyme is involved in oxygen sensing.

Topics: Animals; Dinoprost; Hypoxia; Male; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; NADPH Oxidases; Onium Compounds; Pulmonary Artery; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Vasoconstriction; Vasodilator Agents

The changes in force developed during 40-min exposures to hypoxia (37 +/- 1 mmHg) were recorded in large (0.84 +/- 0.02-mm-diameter) and small (0.39 +/- 0.01-mm-diameter) intrapulmonary arteries during combinations of mechanical wall stretch tensions (passive + active myogenic components), equivalent to transmural vascular pressures of 5, 15, 30, 50, and 100 mmHg, and active (vasoconstriction) tensions, stimulated by PGF2alpha in doses of 0, 25, 50, and 75% effective concentrations. Constriction was observed in all arteries during the first minute; however, at any active tension, the pattern of the subsequent response was a function of the stretch tension. At 5, 15, and 30 mmHg, the constriction decreased slightly at 5 min and then increased again to remain constrictor throughout. At 50 and 100 mmHg, the initial constriction was followed by persistent dilation. Hypoxic constrictor responses, most resembling those observed in lungs in vivo and in vitro, were observed when the mechanical stretch wall tension was equivalent to 15 or 30 mmHg and the dose of PGF2alpha was 25 or 50% effective concentration. These observations reconcile many apparently contradictory results reported previously.

Topics: Animals; Dinoprost; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Hypoxia; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Muscle Tonus; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Potassium Chloride; Pulmonary Artery; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Stress, Mechanical; Vasoconstriction

Neonatal pulmonary hypertension is associated with increased pulmonary vascular reactivity. We studied the responses of isolated porcine intrapulmonary arteries after exposure of piglets to chronic hypobaric hypoxia (CHH) from 0 to 2.5, 3 to 6, or 14 to 17 days of age. CHH inhibited the postnatal development of endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation to acetylcholine (ACh) and the calcium ionophore A-23187. Basal accumulation of guanosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) was unaffected, but cGMP response to ACh was inhibited. Endothelium-independent relaxation to nitric oxide (NO) and zaprinast (a phosphodiesterase inhibitor) was also inhibited, but cGMP accumulation in response to these agonists was normal. The ability of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) to cause vasorelaxation and increase cGMP accumulation was unaffected. Contractile responses to potassium chloride and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) were similar to normal after exposure from birth and 3 days and were decreased in the older group, but the ability of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine acetate to increase PGF2 alpha-induced contractions decreased. Thus exposure of newborn piglets to CHH causes 1) no increase in contractile responses and 2) impairment of endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxation by impairing signal transduction mechanisms involved in the release of NO and the effectiveness of cGMP.

Topics: Acetylcholine; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Atmospheric Pressure; Calcimycin; Chronic Disease; Cyclic GMP; Dinoprost; Endothelium, Vascular; Heart; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Hypoxia; In Vitro Techniques; Nitric Oxide; omega-N-Methylarginine; Potassium Chloride; Pulmonary Artery; Purinones; Swine; Vasodilation; Vasomotor System

Pulmonary hypertension is a feature of clinical and experimental acute lung injury. Nitric oxide (NO) synthesis is increased in hyporesponsive systemic and pulmonary conductance arteries after endotoxin (LPS) injection in the rat. We examined the effects of NO synthase (NOS) induction by LPS on vascular reactivity of the isolated perfused rat lung (IPL) using the selective inducible (iNOS) inhibitor aminoguanidine (AG). Baseline pulmonary artery pressures (Ppa) were higher in the LPS compared with the sham-treated rats and were further increased only in the LPS-treated group by AG. Increased NOS activity in whole lung and the vasopressor effect of AG suggested that iNOS was active in pulmonary resistance vessels after LPS treatment. Vasoconstriction to hypoxia, angiotensin II (AII), and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) was enhanced or unchanged in LPS-treated rats despite NOS induction. Hence, iNOS activity counterbalances increased pulmonary vascular contractility in this model.

Topics: Angiotensin II; Animals; Dinoprost; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enzyme Induction; Enzyme Inhibitors; Guanidines; Hypoxia; In Vitro Techniques; Lipopolysaccharides; Male; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Pulmonary Artery; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Salmonella enteritidis; Vasoconstriction; Vasoconstrictor Agents

We have investigated the action of the product of the enzyme NADPH oxidase; hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), on the first phase of the hypoxic contraction, prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha)-induced contractions and potassium chloride (KCl)-induced contractions, in isolated rat pulmonary arteries in a wire myograph. Both concentrations of H2O2 (0.03 and 0.5 mM) produced initial contractions, and the higher concentration of H2O2 produced a significant inhibition of both the priming concentration of PGF2 alpha (5 microM) and the hypoxic contraction (P < 0.01 for both contractions). These effects were shown to be reversible, with contractions of a similar size to control values being seen to both PGF2 alpha (5 microM) and hypoxia following washout of H2O2 (P > 0.1 for both contractions). H2O2 (0.03 mM) was shown to have no significant effect upon either contraction (P > 0.1 for both contractions). H2O2 (0.5 mM) was also shown to have a significant inhibitory effect upon the efficacy (Emax) of the PGF2 alpha and KCl concentration-response curves (P < 0.01 for both contractions). This inhibition was again shown to be reversible. The higher concentration of H2O2 (0.5 mM) is clearly shown to be having a dual action, producing an initial contraction followed by inhibition of contractions to both PGF2 alpha and KCl. The mechanism by which H2O2 produces vasoconstriction is unclear, but it is suggested that H2O2 may inhibit the release of Ca2+ ions from intracellular stores as this is a common link between the modes of action of these two contractile agents. In addition to this, as an elevation in intracellular Ca2+ from intracellular stores appears to be a prerequisite for hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV), then this apparent mode of action of H2O2 could play an important role in the regulation of HPV and suggests a possible role for NADPH oxidase or a similar oxidoreductase as an oxygen sensor.

Topics: Animals; Dinoprost; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Hydrogen Peroxide; Hypoxia; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Potassium Chloride; Pulmonary Artery; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Vasoconstriction

The intravenous administration of ethchlorvynol (ECV), in dogs, resulted in an acute lung injury (ALI) characterized by a 200 +/- 80% increase in venous admixture and a 142 +/- 30% increase in extravascular lung water (EVLW). Pretreatment with the cytochrome P-450 inhibitor 8-methoxypsoralen prevented the ECV-induced increase in venous admixture but not the increased EVLW. These findings parallel those reported for cyclooxygenase inhibition in ECV-induced ALI and suggest that an arachidonic acid (AA) metabolite of pulmonary cytochrome P-450 activity may mediate the increase in venous admixture of ALI. We demonstrate that canine pulmonary microsomes metabolize [1-(14)C]AA to a variety of products, including the cytochrome P-450 metabolites 5,6-, 8,9-, 11,12-, and 14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EET). In prostaglandin F2 alpha-contracted, isolated pulmonary venous rings, 5,6-EET induced relaxation in a concentration-dependent manner. This action of 5,6-EET was prevented by indomethacin (10(-5) M). These results suggest that may serve as the cyclooxygenase-dependent endogenous pulmonary vasodilator responsible for the increase in venous admixture of ECV-induced ALI.

Topics: 8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid; Animals; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors; Dinoprost; Dogs; Ethchlorvynol; Hypoxia; Lung; Lung Injury; Male; Methoxsalen; Microsomes; Pharmaceutical Vehicles; Vasoconstriction

In electrically driven myocardial preparations obtained from chronically methylxanthine-[aminophylline (APH) and 8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT)] or solvent(DMSO)-treated guinea pigs no differences were found in alteration of mechanical activity under hypoxia and reoxygenation. The vasoconstrictor effects observed after in vitro exposure of pulmonary arterial preparations (excised from either methylxanthine- or solvent-treated guinea pigs) to both noradrenaline and PGF2 alpha were also similar. In methylxanthine-treated vascular tissues, however, nitroglycerin and NO exerted more pronounced vasorelaxant effect than in specimens prepared from solvent-treated guinea pigs.

Topics: Aminophylline; Animals; Atrial Function; Cardiotonic Agents; Dinoprost; Female; Guinea Pigs; Hypoxia; In Vitro Techniques; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Nitric Oxide; Norepinephrine; Pulmonary Artery; Purinergic P1 Receptor Antagonists; Theophylline; Time Factors; Vasoconstriction

We examined effects of inhaled NO gas on pulmonary vasoconstriction induced with hypoxic gas or PGF2 alpha utilizing the isolated perfused rabbit lung. While NO 180 ppm did not change the basal pulmonary artery pressure, the pressure response to hypoxia or PGF2 alpha was completely inhibited by pretreatment with NO inhalation. Inhaled NO during maximal pressor response also depressed the elevated pressure to the basal level. These findings suggest that NO inhaled to the alveoli diffuses directly into the pulmonary vascular smooth muscle and then causes nonspecific vasodilation, and its effect is more potent than that of constitutive type of EDRF/NO.

Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Animals; Diffusion; Dinoprost; Female; Hypoxia; In Vitro Techniques; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Nitrous Oxide; Pulmonary Artery; Rabbits; Vasoconstriction

The effect of hypoxia on intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and tension in small intrapulmonary arteries (IPA) of the rat was examined using the Ca2+ fluorophore fura 2. Induction of hypoxia in IPA preconstricted with 3 microM prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) resulted in a biphasic contractile response, the first phase of which was associated with a transient rise in [Ca2+]i. No additional rise in [Ca2+]i was observed during the more slowly developing second phase constriction. Upon reoxygenation [Ca2+]i and tension returned to prehypoxic levels. Ro-31-8220 [a specific protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor] reduced the first phase in IPA preconstricted with PGF2 alpha or 20 mM KCl, but had no effect on the second phase constriction in either of these groups. These results demonstrate that the first phase of the hypoxic constriction is associated with a transient rise in [Ca2+]i via either Ca2+ influx and/or release, and may have a PKC-dependent component, whereas the second phase involves a PKC-independent sensitization of the contractile machinery to Ca2+.

Topics: Animals; Calcium; Dinoprost; Hypoxia; In Vitro Techniques; Indoles; Kinetics; Male; Muscle Contraction; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Potassium Chloride; Protein Kinase C; Pulmonary Artery; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Vasoconstriction

Topics: Acetylcholine; Adenosine; Adenosine Diphosphate; Allopurinol; Animals; Coronary Vessels; Dinoprost; Dogs; Endothelium, Vascular; Glutathione; Hypoxia; In Vitro Techniques; Insulin; Isoproterenol; Muscle Contraction; Muscle Relaxation; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Nitroprusside; Organ Preservation; Organ Preservation Solutions; Potassium; Raffinose

To study the effects of ketamine on structurally remodeled pulmonary arteries from rats with hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (PH) and the effects of ketamine on endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxation, rats were exposed to hypobaric hypoxia (air at 380 mm Hg for 10 days). We measured the responses to ketamine, acetylcholine, and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in prostaglandin F2 alpha-precontracted ring segments from a left extrapulmonary artery (EPA, 1.4-1.6 mm in outside diameter [OD] and an intrapulmonary artery (IPA, 0.7-1.1 mm OD) obtained from control and PH rats. The effects of acetylcholine and SNP were decreased in EPA and IPA rings from PH rats compared with control rings. In contrast, ketamine produced a greater relaxation response in rings from PH rats at 3 x 10(-5) -3 x 10(-4) in the EPA and at 10(-4) -10(-3) M in the IPA compared to control rings. A nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, nitro-L-arginine (10(-4) M), inhibited the relaxation in response to acetylcholine in both control and PH rats. Pretreatment with ketamine (10(-4) M) had no effect on the relaxation response to any concentration of acetylcholine or SNP in either control or PH rats. We conclude that nitric-oxide-mediated relaxation, but not ketamine-induced relaxation, was impaired in structurally remodeled hypertensive pulmonary arteries. Ketamine had no effects on nitric oxide-mediated relaxation in either normal or PH rats.

Topics: Acetylcholine; Animals; Arginine; Dinoprost; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Hypoxia; In Vitro Techniques; Ketamine; Male; Nitric Oxide; Nitroarginine; Nitroprusside; Pulmonary Artery; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Vasodilation

University of Wisconsin (UW) solution has been used almost routinely in the preservation of the hepatic, pancreatic, renal, and cardiac allografts. However, its effect on vascular endothelium is unknown. Experiments were designed to evaluate its effect on canine coronary endothelium. Canine coronary arteries (n = 8 in each group) were preserved in cold (4 degrees C) UW solution (group 1) and physiological solution (group 2) for 6 hr immediately after harvesting. Segments of preserved and control (group 3) coronary arteries with or without endothelium were then suspended in organ chambers to measure isometric force. Perfusate hypoxia (pO2 30 +/- 5 mmHg) caused endothelium-dependent contraction in the arteries of all 3 groups. However, vascular segments with endothelium of group 1 exhibited hypoxic contractions (107 +/- 26% of the initial tension contracted by prostaglandin F2 alpha 2 x 10(-6) mol/L, P < 0.05) that were significantly greater than those of the group 2 and group 3 segments with endothelium (25 +/- 5% and 20 +/- 4%). The hypoxic contraction in arteries of group 1 could be attenuated by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), the blocker of endothelial cell synthesis of the nitric oxide from L-arginine. The action of L-NMMA could be reversed by L-arginine but not D-arginine. Endothelium-dependent relaxation of coronary endothelium to acetylcholine and adenosine diphosphate and endothelium-independent relaxation and contraction of coronary smooth muscle were not altered by the UW solution. After preservation with the UW solution, endothelium-dependent contraction of the canine coronary arteries, occurs by L-arginine-dependent pathway, is enhanced. This augmentation by the UW solution would favor vasospasm after transplantation.

Topics: Acetylcholine; Adenosine; Allopurinol; Animals; Arginine; Cell Communication; Coronary Vessels; Dinoprost; Dogs; Endothelium, Vascular; Female; Glutathione; Hypoxia; Insulin; Isoproterenol; Male; Nitric Oxide; omega-N-Methylarginine; Organ Preservation; Organ Preservation Solutions; Potassium; Raffinose; Time Factors; Vasoconstriction; Vasodilation

The effect of levcromakalim on vascular reactivity was examined in rat isolated pulmonary arterial (PA) rings. Vasoconstriction in response to KCl, prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) and hypoxia and vasodilatation in response to levcromakalim were studied isometrically in a small-vessel myograph. Levcromakalim caused a dose-dependent inhibition of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) in pulmonary resistance vessels (PRV). At 10 microM, levcromakalim caused 58% inhibition in PRV compared with control. In contrast, HPV in large PAs was not significantly inhibited by levcromakalim. At a higher concentration, levcromakalim (100 microM) caused 88% inhibition in PRV and 80% inhibition in PA. The first phase of HPV is not endothelium-dependent, but second-phase contraction is partially endothelium dependent. Levcromakalim (1-10 microM) inhibited contractions induced by low KCl concentrations (10-30 mM) and had no effect on those elicited by 50 to 100 mM KCl in PRV. However, a higher concentration of levcromakalim (100 microM) significantly decreased KCl efficacy in PRV. In PA, all of the concentrations of levcromakalim (1-100 microM) significantly decreased KCl efficacy. The vasorelaxant effects of levcromakalim (1-100 microM) on PRV and PA rings contracted with a low KCl concentration (30 mM) were prevented by tetrabutylammonium (10 microns). PGF2 alpha (1-100 microM)-induced contractions were diminished in both vessel types by levcromakalim (0.1-10 microM). The maximal response to PGF2 alpha was decreased by 77.72% in PRV and 68.50% in PA, respectively, in the presence of 10 microM levcromakalim. Levcromakalim (1 microM) has no additional effect on the transient contraction induced by PGF2 alpha in Ca(++)-free solution in PRV and PA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Animals; Benzopyrans; Calcium; Cromakalim; Dinoprost; Endothelium, Vascular; Hypoxia; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Potassium Chloride; Pulmonary Artery; Pyrroles; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; Rats; Vasoconstriction; Vasodilator Agents

To study the changes of endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxation in structurally remodeled pulmonary arteries with hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and their reversibility during recovery in room air, rats were exposed to hypobaric hypoxia (air at 380 mmHg) for 10 days and then allowed to recover in room air for 3, 14, 28, or 56 days. Relaxation by acetylcholine, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), and isoproterenol was depressed in large- and small-conduit pulmonary arterial rings from rats exposed to 10 days of hypoxia. The relaxant response to isoproterenol and SNP was normalized completely after 3 and 28 days of recovery, respectively. The relaxation by acetylcholine was still impaired at high concentrations after 56 days. A cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin, enhanced relaxation by acetylcholine of rings from experimental rats but not from control rats. Endothelium-denuded rings showed no difference in the response to acetylcholine between control and experimental rats. In conclusion, the impaired response to acetylcholine may be related to acetylcholine-induced, cyclooxygenase-dependent production of a vasoconstrictor by endothelial cells and to depressed smooth muscle response to nitric oxide (NO). During recovery, the NO-induced guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate-dependent dilation returned to normal. However, the release of cyclooxygenase-dependent production of a vasoconstrictor may persist even after 56 days of recovery.

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Dinoprost; Endothelium, Vascular; Hypertension; Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular; Hypoxia; Male; Nitric Oxide; Potassium Chloride; Pulmonary Artery; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Vasodilator Agents

To determine the effect of humoral factors and their interaction on the development of acute hypoxic pulmonary pressor response (HPPR), we performed studies in 16 mongrel dogs. We measured plasma levels of noradrenaline (NE), angiotensin II (AII), prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6KPGF1 alpha), thromboxane B2 (TXB2), leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) before, during and after HPPR. Multiple regression analysis showed that the changes of pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP) and pulmonary arterial diastolic pressure (PADP) correlated well with those of plasma concentration of NE, PGF2 alpha and 6KPGF1 alpha, respectively (r were equal to 0.633 and 0.668, respectively, P < 0.01). The results of orthogonal experiment analysis with an injection of exogenous NE, PGF2 alpha and PGI alpha into main pulmonary artery of dogs showed that NE and the interaction of PGF2 alpha and PGI2 alpha increased PASP (P < 0.05) and PGI2 attenuated PASP (P < 0.01). The interaction of PGF2 alpha and PGI2 and of PGF2 alpha and NE increased PADP(P < 0.01) and PGI2 attenuated PADP (P < 0.01).

Topics: 6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; Angiotensin II; Animals; Blood Pressure; Dinoprost; Dogs; Female; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Hypoxia; Male; Norepinephrine; Pressoreceptors; Pulmonary Artery; Thromboxane B2

We wanted to assess the respective roles of arachidonic acid products and nitric oxide in the modulation of pulmonary hypertension in chronically hypoxic rats. In isolated blood-perfused lungs, the effects of arachidonic acid before and after treatment with the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, meclofenamate, were compared in control (C) rats and rats exposed for two weeks to 10% oxygen (chronic hypoxia CH). Arachidonic acid caused mixed dilator and constrictor effects during both normoxia and hypoxia; dilatation was more prominent in chronically hypoxic rats. Meclofenamate abolished both dilator and constrictor actions of arachidonic acid; it raised baseline, normoxic pulmonary artery pressure, in chronically hypoxic but not control rats, which suggests that dilator products of arachidonic acid are released in the pulmonary hypertension of chronic hypoxia and attenuate pulmonary artery pressure. As shown previously, the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) raised pressure in chronically hypoxic but not control rats. Meclofenamate and L-NAME given in sequence both raised pulmonary artery pressure in chronically hypoxic rats and the combined rise was substantial (+13 mmHg). We conclude that, in the conditions of our experiment, both nitric oxide and dilator prostanoids are released in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in rats. Thus, two synthetic processes, both possibly endothelial dependent, may modulate hypoxic pulmonary hypertension.

Topics: Amino Acid Oxidoreductases; Animals; Arachidonic Acid; Arginine; Blood Pressure; Dilatation; Dinoprost; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Hypoxia; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Meclofenamic Acid; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; Pulmonary Artery; Rats; Rats, Wistar

Hypoxia alters the responsiveness to endogenous substances of cerebral arteries, possibly resulting in the modulation of blood supply to ischemic brain regions. The present study was undertaken to analyze the mechanism of potentiation by hypoxia of angiotensin II-induced cerebroarterial contractions.. Monkey and dog cerebral arterial strips with endothelium were suspended for isometric tension recording in Ringer-Locke solution aerated with 95% O2-5% CO2 (partial pressure, 570-600 mm Hg) or 95% N2-5% CO2 (approximately 10 mm Hg).. Contractions induced by angiotensin II and substance P were potentiated by exposure to hypoxia, whereas contractile responses to prostaglandin F2 alpha were not influenced. Treatment with cyclooxygenase inhibitors abolished the peptide-induced contraction but did not alter the prostaglandin F2 alpha-induced contraction. Relaxations induced by arachidonic acid were suppressed by indomethacin and hypoxia, whereas those caused by a prostaglandin I2 analogue were unaffected.. The potentiation by hypoxia of cerebroarterial contractions caused by angiotensin II and substance P appears to be due to an interference with the synthesis of prostaglandin I2 from arachidonic acid and a resultant increase in the production of vasoconstrictor prostaglandins.

Topics: Angiotensin II; Animals; Cerebral Arteries; Constriction, Pathologic; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Dinoprost; Disease Models, Animal; Dogs; Endothelium, Vascular; Female; Hypoxia; Macaca; Male; Substance P

1. We have investigated the vasoreactivity of isolated pulmonary resistance vessels of rats after acclimatization to chronic hypoxia in a normobaric, hypoxic chamber. Vasoconstriction, in response to KCl and prostaglandin F2 alpha, and vasodilation, in response to atrial natriuretic peptide, were studied isometrically in a small-vessel myograph. Resting tensions were set to simulate transmural pressures of 17.5 mmHg or 35 mmHg. 2. There were no significant differences between intergroup internal vessel diameters or maximal contractile responses to either agonist. Both control and chronically hypoxic vessels generated significantly greater active contractions at 35 mmHg than at 17.5 mmHg. There were significant positive correlations between vessel diameter and maximum contractility for both control and chronically hypoxic vessels, but when contraction was expressed as equivalent transmural pressure no correlation existed. 3. There was a significant increase in potency (as measured by the concentration necessary to produce 50% of the maximum response) of KCl in chronically hypoxic vessels compared with control vessels at 35 mmHg, but not at 17.5 mmHg. In contrast, the potency of prostaglandin F2 alpha was significantly increased in chronically hypoxic vessels at 17.5 mmHg, but not at 35 mmHg. Thus the change in contractile responses of vessels from chronically hypoxic animals, in terms of maximal response and potency, is dependent on both resting pressure and agonist used. 4. After exposure to chronic hypoxia, atrial natriuretic peptide induced significantly greater maximal relaxation of pulmonary resistance vessels at both resting pressures, but its potency was unaffected.

Topics: Animals; Atrial Natriuretic Factor; Dinoprost; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Hypoxia; Male; Potassium Chloride; Pulmonary Artery; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Vascular Resistance; Vasoconstriction; Vasodilation

We determined the effects of 8-epiprostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha, a noncyclooxygenase free radical-catalyzed product of arachidonic acid, on pulmonary vascular tone, its potency, and its mechanism of action. 8-Epi-PGF2 alpha (0.5-20 micrograms) was injected into the pulmonary artery (PA) catheter of 10 rabbits whose lungs were perfused in situ with Krebs-Henseleit buffer solution with 3% bovine serum albumin. PA pressure increased from a baseline of 13.5 +/- 0.6 to 25.6 +/- 2.0 cmH2O with 20 micrograms 8-epi-PGF2 alpha. 8-Epi-PGF2 alpha caused a rapid rise in PA pressure followed by a gradual decline over 40-60 min to baseline levels. Double vascular occlusion revealed a twofold increase in arterial resistance at peak rise in PA pressure. The rise in PA pressure with 20 micrograms 8-epi-PGF2 alpha was fivefold greater than with 20 micrograms of the cyclooxygenase-derived prostaglandin PGF2 alpha. The PA pressure response to 8-epi-PGF2 alpha was not altered by either cyclooxygenase block-ade with 150 microM meclofenamate or alpha-receptor blockade with 70 microM phentolamine, but was fully prevented by 40 microM SQ 29548, a thromboxane receptor antagonist. We conclude that in rabbits 8-epi-PGF2 alpha is a potent vasoconstrictor of the pulmonary vasculature, which appears to be due to the activation of SQ 29548-responsive thromboxane receptors.

Topics: Animals; Blood Pressure; Dinoprost; Female; Hypoxia; In Vitro Techniques; Lung; Meclofenamic Acid; Microcirculation; Potassium Chloride; Pulmonary Artery; Pulmonary Circulation; Rabbits

In monkey coronary artery strips contracted with prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha or K+, exchange of entire N2 for O2 in the gas aerating the bathing media produced a contraction. Endothelium denudation did not alter the response. Aspirin, indomethacin, and ONO 3708, a PG receptor antagonist, markedly inhibited the hypoxia-induced contraction, whereas superoxide dismutase and OKY 046, a thromboxane (Tx) A2 synthesis inhibitor, were ineffective. Diltiazem depressed the contraction. Hypoxia increased the release of PGE2 but not 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and TxB2. Contractions induced by hypoxia of human coronary artery strips were also independent of the endothelium but were suppressed by indomethacin and diltiazem. On the other hand, dog coronary artery contractions induced by hypoxia were attenuated by endothelium denudation but were not influenced by indomethacin. It may be concluded that the hypoxia-induced contraction of monkey and human epicardial coronary arteries is associated with vasoconstrictor PGs released from subendothelial tissues; however, TxA2 and superoxide anion are not involved. The dog coronary artery contraction appears to be elicited by substance(s), other than cyclooxygenase products, released from the endothelium.

Topics: Animals; Aspirin; Coronary Vessels; Dinoprost; Dogs; Endothelium, Vascular; Female; Humans; Hypoxia; In Vitro Techniques; Indomethacin; Isometric Contraction; Macaca; Male; Methacrylates; Muscle Relaxation; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Papaverine; Prostaglandins; Species Specificity; Superoxide Dismutase; Thromboxane A2; Thromboxane B2; Thromboxane-A Synthase

1. To further understand the vasodilator actions of atrial natriuretic peptide and its role in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension, we studied the effects of atrial natriuretic peptide in the isolated perfused rat lung during normoxic ventilation and after elevation of pulmonary artery pressure by either hypoxic ventilation or infusion of prostaglandin F2 alpha. Control animals were compared with littermates that had become adapted to a 10% O2 environment for 3 weeks. Atrial natriuretic peptide was compared with atriopeptin I and atriopeptin III in order to study its structure-activity relationship. 2. Five experiments, each involving six control and six chronically hypoxic rats, were performed. During normoxic ventilation, atrial natriuretic peptide (30 ng-3 micrograms) produced a dose-dependent reduction in pulmonary artery pressure in chronically hypoxic rats, but had no action in the control animals. 3. Atrial natriuretic peptide dose-dependently abolished hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction to a greater extent in chronically hypoxic rats (EC50 98 ng) than in control rats (EC50 298 ng; P less than 0.001). Bolus atrial natriuretic peptide (100 ng) produced a plasma concentration of 22.6 pmol/l at 1 min, which is within the pathophysiological range. Initial plasma atrial natriuretic peptide levels were 9.4 pmol/l in control animals and 27.4 pmol/l in chronically hypoxic rats. 4. Chronically hypoxic rats were more sensitive to atriopeptin I, atriopeptin III and atrial natriuretic peptide than were the control rats (P less than 0.05). Atrial natriuretic peptide and atriopeptin III were equipotent and were 10 times more potent than atriopeptide I in both groups (P less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Animals; Atrial Natriuretic Factor; Blood Pressure; Dinoprost; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Hypoxia; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Peptide Fragments; Pulmonary Artery; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Structure-Activity Relationship; Vasodilation

The effect of severe hypoxia in quiescent or contracted (prostaglandin F2 alpha) canine coronary artery rings with and without endothelium was studied. Hypoxia induced an initial transient relaxation followed by a sustained contraction. The hypoxic contraction in quiescent rings was comparable in rings with and without endothelium. The facilitation of the contraction to prostaglandin F2 alpha was more pronounced in rings with endothelium. Increasing the level of contractions by augmenting the contraction of prostaglandin F2 alpha potentiated the hypoxic contraction in rings with endothelium only. Methylene blue, LY 83583, and nitro-L-arginine reversed the hypoxic facilitation in contracted rings into relaxation, whereas M&B 22948 augmented it. In quiescent coronary preparations, methylene blue reversed the hypoxic contraction into relaxation in preparations with and without endothelium, whereas nitro-L-arginine had the same effect in vessels with endothelium only. SIN-1, nitroglycerin, and dibutyryl guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) unmasked hypoxic facilitation in rings without endothelium. This was not observed with isoproterenol. The measurement of the level of cGMP revealed an increased level in rings with endothelium compared with those without endothelium under control oxygenation. This difference disappeared during hypoxia due to a decrease of cGMP content in vessels with endothelium. The results suggest that a moderate increase of the cGMP level in vascular smooth muscle is a prerequisite for the occurrence of hypoxia-induced facilitation in contracted canine coronary arteries.

Topics: Animals; Arginine; Coronary Vessels; Cyclic GMP; Dinoprost; Dogs; Endothelium, Vascular; Female; Hypoxia; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Methylene Blue; Muscle Contraction; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Nitric Oxide; Nitroarginine; Oxygen

The influence of methylene blue, an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase, on responses to ventilatory and precapillary hypoxia was investigated in the intact-chest cat under conditions of controlled blood flow and constant left atrial pressure. Because methylene blue increased vascular tone, responses to hypoxia were compared when lobar arterial pressure was raised to similar levels with U 46619 and with methylene blue. When lobar arterial pressure was raised with U 46619, ventilation with 7.5% O2 increased lobar arterial pressure significantly. Infusion of methylene blue in concentrations that raised lobar arterial pressure to a value similar to that attained with U 46619 prevented the pressor response to hypoxia, and a significant depressor response was unmasked. The depressor response to hypoxia in the methylene blue-treated animal was not altered by meclofenamate but was blocked by propranolol. A reduction in lobar arterial perfusate PO2 induces an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance in the cat, and this response was prevented by methylene blue. During methylene blue infusion, the vasodilator response to acetylcholine was reduced, whereas the response to isoproterenol was not altered. Although the response to hypoxia was prevented, the pressor response to prostaglandin F2 alpha was not changed. The response to ventilatory hypoxia was enhanced by propranolol or ICI 118551, suggesting that the response is modulated by circulating catecholamines that are probably of adrenal origin. The effects of methylene blue on vascular tone and responses to hypoxia and acetylcholine were reversible, and responses returned to control value after the infusion was terminated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: 15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid; Acetylcholine; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Animals; Cats; Dinoprost; Female; Hypoxia; Male; Meclofenamic Acid; Methylene Blue; Perfusion; Propranolol; Prostaglandin Endoperoxides, Synthetic; Pulmonary Circulation; Respiration; Vasoconstriction; Vasodilation

In isolated transverse strips of porcine coronary artery and rings of coronary vein both mild (pO2 = 70 +/- 2.6 mmHg) and severe (pO2 = 17.4 +/- 0.8 mmHg) hypoxia (30 min duration) produced a transient contraction depending on the severity of hypoxia. Hypoxia did not influence the contraction evoked by prostaglandin F2 alpha in coronary veins but inhibited it significantly in coronary arteries. In the venous preparations there was no change of the endothelium-dependent relaxation to bradykinin and acetylcholine during mild hypoxia but these responses were inhibited during exposure to severe hypoxia. The endothelium-dependent relaxation to bradykinin produced in coronary arteries was not modified by mild hypoxia but was inhibited in the higher concentration range of bradykinin by severe hypoxia. The results suggest a higher sensitivity of porcine coronary arteries to hypoxia compared to coronary veins that could be due to the different morphology (thickness) of the vessel wall. This may play a role in pathophysiology including hypoxic state during coronary vasospasm.

Topics: Acetylcholine; Animals; Arteries; Bradykinin; Coronary Vessels; Dinoprost; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Endothelium, Vascular; Hypoxia; Muscle Relaxation; Vasoconstriction; Veins

To evaluate leukotriene (LT) C4 as a mediator of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, we examined the effects of FPL55712, a putative LT antagonist, and indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, on vasopressor responses to LTC4 and hypoxia (inspired O2 tension = 25 Torr) in isolated ferret lungs perfused with a constant flow (50 ml.kg-1.min-1). Pulmonary arterial injections of LTC4 caused dose-related increases in pulmonary arterial pressure during perfusion with physiological salt solution containing Ficoll (4 g/dl). FPL55712 caused concentration-related inhibition of the pressor response to LTC4 (0.6 micrograms). Although 10 micrograms/ml FPL55712 inhibited the LTC4 pressor response by 61%, it did not alter the response to hypoxia. At 100 microgram/ml, FPL55712 inhibited the responses to LTC4 and hypoxia by 73 and 71%, respectively, but also attenuated the vasoconstrictor responses to prostaglandin F2 alpha (78% at 8 micrograms), phenylephrine (68% at 100 micrograms), and KCl (51% at 40 mM). At 0.5 microgram/ml, indomethacin significantly attenuated the pressor response to arachidonic acid but did not alter responses to LTC4 or hypoxia. These results suggest that in isolated ferret lungs 1) the vasoconstrictor response to LTC4 did not depend on release of cyclooxygenase products and 2) LTC4 did not mediate hypoxic vasoconstriction.

Topics: Animals; Carnivora; Chromones; Dinoprost; Ferrets; Hypoxia; Indomethacin; Lung; Male; Phenylephrine; Potassium Chloride; Pulmonary Circulation; SRS-A; Vasoconstriction

Dopexamine hydrochloride is a new analog of dopamine that lowers systemic vascular resistance and has positive inotropic and chronotropic properties, but lacks the alpha-adrenoceptor agonist activity of dopamine. The effects of dopexamine on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) are not known. We investigated this using an isolated, blood-perfused, and ventilated rat lung model. To study HPV, the ventilating gas was changed from an FIO2 of 0.21 to 0.03 and dopexamine hydrochloride was added. At blood concentrations of 100, 200, and 300 ng/ml, dopexamine caused a significant decrease in HPV of 22 +/- 3%, 31 +/- 4%, and 58 +/- 4% (mean +/- SEM, p less than .05), respectively. This effect was blocked completely by pretreatment of the preparation with propranolol (0.5 mg/kg, p less than .05). Dopexamine also induced significant (p less than .05) vasodilation of the pulmonary circulation preconstricted under normoxic conditions with prostaglandin F2 alpha, suggesting that the effects of the drug were not specific to hypoxia. We conclude that dopexamine inhibits HPV and vasodilates the pulmonary circulation by stimulation of beta 2 adrenoceptors.

Topics: Animals; Dinoprost; Disease Models, Animal; Dopamine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Hypoxia; Lung; Lung Diseases; Male; Propranolol; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Respiration, Artificial; Vasoconstriction; Vasodilator Agents

Cellular mechanisms and environmental factors contributing to wound failure following shock and wound contamination are unclear. The activation of macrophages by exposure to hypoxia (pO2 less than 20) and/or lipopolysaccharide (10 micrograms/ml) in vitro was investigated for its effect on macrophage regulation of fibroblast proliferation. The effect on fibroblast proliferation of conditioned medium from activated murine macrophages or co-culture with activated macrophages was tested by measuring 3T3 fibroblast incorporation of 3H-thymidine and culture DNA content. Unstimulated macrophages produced growth factors that increase fibroblast proliferation (proliferation index (PI) = 1.4 +/- 0.15, p less than 0.05 vs. control). Activation by hypoxia alone had little effect on macrophage regulation of fibroplasia (PI = 1.55 +/- 0.28, N.S. vs. unstimulated macrophages). LPS activated macrophages suppressed fibroplasia and the combination of hypoxia with LPS augmented the suppression (PI = 0.5 +/- 0.11, LPS alone, p less than 0.05 and 0.25 +/- 0.05, LPS + hypoxia, p less than 0.01). In addition, hypoxia + LPS treated co-cultures had reduced DNA contents, suggesting reduced cell numbers (12.5 +/- 2.6 micrograms vs. 8.2 +/- 2.0 micrograms). We screened several macrophage cytokines for their direct effect on 3T3 proliferation and found that mr-Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (150 units) also suppressed proliferation. Conditioned supernatants from LPS activated macrophages contained 12 +/- 2 units of mrTNF as measured by L929 cytolysis; however, this was significantly less than required to induce suppression of proliferation by direct addition. The regulatory role of the macrophage appears to be dependent on its level of activation. Activation by hypoxia and LPS altered macrophage regulation of fibroblast proliferation from stimulation to suppression.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Animals; Biological Factors; Cell Division; Cytokines; Dinoprost; Fibroblasts; Hypoxia; In Vitro Techniques; Lipopolysaccharides; Macrophages; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Wound Healing; Wounds and Injuries

We studied the role of vascular collagen on the responsiveness of isolated pulmonary arteries to vasoactive agonists. Dose-response curves to prostaglandin F2 alpha, (PGF2 alpha), angiotensin II (ANG II), and norepinephrine (NE) and responses to a depolarizing concentration of KCl were obtained on rings of pulmonary artery from normal rats, chronically hypoxic (10% O2 for 10 days) rats, and chronically hypoxic rats treated with cis-4-hydroxy-L-proline (cHyp), an agent that blocks collagen accumulation. Treatment with this agent prevented the rise in pulmonary blood pressure normally seen during hypoxia. Collagen content was twice normal in hypoxic vessels and was significantly reduced in vessels from cHyp-treated hypoxic rats. There was no change in reactivity to PGF2 alpha, but reactivity to ANG II, NE, and KCl was decreased in vessels from hypoxic rats. cHyp treatment completely restored reactivity to NE and KCl and partially restored reactivity to ANG II. The changes in contractility could be a response to the lower blood pressure. Another explanation is that collagen deposited in hypertensive pulmonary arteries may impair reactivity to some constrictor agonists.

Topics: Angiotensin II; Animals; Collagen; Dinoprost; Hydroxyproline; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Hypoxia; Male; Norepinephrine; Potassium Chloride; Pulmonary Artery; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains

The distribution of pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) with respect to compliance was determined using vascular occlusion in isolated lungs from lambs at five ages, from 2 wk before birth to 1 mo of age. The major change in PVR occurred in the pressure gradient across the middle compliant region (delta Pm), which dropped sharply at birth, remained low for 2 wk, and increased at 1 mo. Pulmonary vasoreactivity also varied with ages. Lungs at 0-4 days did not respond to hypoxia and responded poorly to prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha). In contrast, lungs at 13-33 days had significant increases in delta Pm and the gradient across relatively indistensible arterial vessels during hypoxia and increases in all gradients with PGF2 alpha. Ventilation of fetal lungs reduced PVR, mainly because of a 50% reduction in delta Pm. Our results demonstrate that the magnitude and distribution of PVR relative to compliance varied as a function of perinatal age and that pulmonary vasoreactivity depended on postnatal age. The major effect of ventilating fetal lungs was on the middle region.

Topics: Aging; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Dinoprost; Fetus; Hypoxia; In Vitro Techniques; Oxygen; Pulmonary Alveoli; Pulmonary Circulation; Respiration, Artificial; Sheep; Vascular Resistance

We examined the effects of cell-permeable dibutyryl cyclic AMP (DBcAMP) on acute hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) in conscious sheep. Mean left and right atrial, pulmonary, and systemic pressures (Pla, Pra, Ppa, and Psa, mm Hg), cardiac output (CO, L/min), and heart rate were measured continuously. Systemic (SVR) and pulmonary vascular resistances (PVR) were calculated by (Psa-Pra)/CO and (Ppa-Pla)/CO, respectively. Five groups of experiments were performed using the same sheep (n = 6). After a 30-min baseline period, sheep inhaled a hypoxic gas mixture (O2:N2 = 1:9) for 40 min. Pretreatment with DBcAMP (200 micrograms/kg/min) inhibited HPV (Ppa, 12.0 +/- 2.3 to 20.0 +/- 2.3 versus 13.2 +/- 2.5 to 14.3 +/- 1.4 mm Hg, p less than 0.01; PVR, 2.61 +/- 0.81 to 4.15 +/- 1.14 versus 2.30 +/- 0.87 to 2.52 +/- 0.59 mm Hg/L/min, p less than 0.01). DBcAMP treatment (200 micrograms/kg/min) after induction of HPV also significantly attenuated hypoxic pulmonary response (Ppa, 19.0 +/- 1.7 to 14.2 +/- 2.3 mm Hg, p less than 0.01; PVR, 3.92 +/- 0.39 to 2.34 +/- 0.34 mm Hg/L/min, p less than 0.01) without significant decreases in Psa and SVR. Pretreatment with DBcAMP (200 micrograms/kg/min) did not significantly alter pulmonary pressor responses to bolus injections of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) (10 micrograms/kg) and norepinephrine (4 micrograms/kg). These results may suggest that intracellular augmentation of cyclic AMP plays a crucial role in modulating HPV.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Blood Pressure; Bucladesine; Consciousness; Dinoprost; Drug Synergism; Hemodynamics; Hypoxia; Norepinephrine; Prostaglandins F; Pulmonary Circulation; Vasoconstriction

To evaluate the role of leukotrienes in hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, we measured steady-state pressor responses to graded hypoxia in isolated ferret lungs perfused with autologous blood containing 0.001, 0.03, 1, or 3 mM nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), 1 mM BW 755C, or 0.02-0.05 mM indomethacin. Untreated lungs served as controls. Perfusate concentrations of thromboxane B2 and 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha, measured by radioimmunoassay, were markedly reduced in all treated lungs, indicating inhibition of cyclooxygenase. The maximum pressor response to hypoxia measured at a blood flow of 50 ml.min-1. kg-1 averaged 26.6 +/- 2.4 Torr in untreated lungs and was not affected by BW 755C or 0.001-0.03 mM NDGA. Because BW 755C and NDGA inhibited cyclooxygenase at concentrations that did not affect hypoxic vasoconstriction and because both agents are thought to inhibit lipoxygenase with a potency greater than or equal to that with which they inhibit cyclooxygenase, these results do not support the possibility that hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction was mediated by leukotrienes. At concentrations of 1 and 3 mM, NDGA inhibited the maximum hypoxic pressor response by 57 and 95%, respectively. The mechanism of this attenuation is unknown; however, it was apparently not due to cyclooxygenase inhibition, since indomethacin enhanced the maximum hypoxic pressor response by 45%. Nor was it due to blockade of calcium entry or interference with the contractile process in pulmonary vascular smooth muscle, since 1 mM NDGA did not inhibit vasoconstrictor responses to KCl or prostaglandin F2 alpha.

Topics: 4,5-Dihydro-1-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-amine; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Blood Gas Analysis; Blood Pressure; Catechols; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Dinoprost; Ferrets; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Hypoxia; Indomethacin; Leukotriene B4; Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; Lung; Male; Masoprocol; Organ Culture Techniques; Oxygen; Potassium Chloride; Prostaglandins F; Pyrazoles; Vasoconstriction

Immunohistochemical staining for prostaglandin F2-alpha (PG F2 alpha) was conducted to identify PG F2 alpha synthesizing or binding sites in anoxic rat brains. Anoxia was produced in 22 rats to lower the arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) to 21 +/- 4 mmHg by ventilation with a 95% nitrogen and 5% carbon dioxide gas mixture. In 8 animals anoxia was continued for 30 sec, and in 14 rats for 3 min. Prior to decapitation, 5 animals in the 30-sec anoxia group and 8 rats in the 3-min anoxia group were reoxygenated for 5 min, while the remaining 9 were not. Five-min reoxygenation returned the PaO2 to 106 +/- 7. Three non-reoxygenated and 3 reoxygenated rats, all pretreated with indomethacin, and 5 normal rats served as controls. The brains were snap-frozen. The cryosections were stained by the indirect immunofluorescence method. PG F2 alpha was noted mainly in pial vessels in all normal rats. All reoxygenated rats showed a positive reaction not only in blood vessels, but also in neurons, particularly hippocampal neurons and Purkinje cells. The staining of the above neurons was noted to be less in non-reoxygenated rats. The stronger staining was observed in rats reoxygenated after 3-min anoxia than 30-sec anoxia. The indomethacin-pretreated rats showed almost no increase in staining intensity. The above results indicate that reoxygenation after anoxia results in an increase of PG F2 alpha in neurons of both cerebrum and cerebellum.

Topics: Animals; Blood Pressure; Brain; Decerebrate State; Dinoprost; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Hypoxia; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Rats

To determine whether the pulmonary and circulatory effects of intravenous Prostaglandins F2 alpha and E2 are altered in the presence of emphysema and/or hypoxia, 19 New Zealand White rabbits were treated with 3 doses of intratracheal porcine pancreatic elastase (100 U/kg) administered at 4 day intervals to induce panacinar emphysema, and 19 were treated on a similar schedule with saline to serve as controls. Thirty days after their last elastase or saline treatment, rabbits were divided randomly into hypoxic and non-hypoxic breathing subgroups, so that there were 4 experimental groups: control/non-hypoxic (n = 10), control/hypoxic (n = 9), elastase/non-hypoxic (n = 11), and elastase/hypoxic (n = 8). All rabbits underwent pulmonary physiologic studies and received rapid intravenous infusions of PGF2 alpha (6, 12, 14 micrograms) and PGE2 (1,3,6 micrograms). Lung resistance (RL), dynamic lung compliance (Cdyn), right ventricular systolic pressure (Prv), and mean aortic pressure (Paorta) were measured before, and 1 and 5 min. after prostaglandin infusions. At the conclusion of these studies, all rabbits were killed for morphometric and light microscopic analysis of their lungs. Elastase treated rabbits and physiologic, morphometric, and light microscopic evidence of panacinar emphysema. In the control/non-hypoxic group, PGF2 alpha had no effect on Cdyn, but produced a decline in Paorta and an increase in RL and Prv after the 24 micrograms dose. In the same group, PGE2 had no effect on RL or Cdyn, but a decrease in Paorta was observed with all 3 doses. In addition, Prv increased after 6 micrograms of PGE2. These effects were produced by doses of PGF2 alpha and PGE2 which were 12 and 3 times greater respectively than effects of similar magnitude in dogs. Except for the absence of an increase in RL after PGF2 alpha 24 micrograms, the presence of emphysema did not alter the effects of PGF2 alpha or PGE2. However, hypoxia irrespective of emphysema produced greater physiologic effects from both prostanoids. These findings indicate that rabbits are more resistant to the effects of PGF2 alpha and PGE2 on pulmonary mechanics, and pulmonary and systemic vascular pressures. Furthermore, they suggest that hypoxia is a more important factor influencing pulmonary prostaglandin catabolism than anatomic pulmonary emphysema.

Topics: Animals; Blood Pressure; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Female; Hypoxia; Injections, Intravenous; Lung; Lung Compliance; Male; Pancreatic Elastase; Prostaglandins; Prostaglandins E; Prostaglandins F; Pulmonary Emphysema; Rabbits

Marked damage to the endothelium is associated with the pulmonary hypertension that develops during in vivo exposure to hyperoxia at normobaric pressures. We hypothesized that endothelial cell damage may contribute to initial increases in vascular tone during the development of hypertension by altering the metabolism of vasoactive compounds and/or modulating vessel responses to those agents that require an intact endothelium for their actions. This study reports the effects of in vivo hyperoxic damage to the lung on the pharmacologic properties of isolated pulmonary vessels. Proximal pulmonary arteries isolated from adult and weanling rats that breathed 85% O2 for 7 days were studied using myograph techniques. Isometric tension development was recorded in response to the cumulative addition of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) and the ability of acetylcholine (ACh) to relax precontracted vessels was subsequently assessed. Sensitivities to PGF2 alpha were increased in both adult and weanling hyperoxic vessels relative to control. Conversely, relaxation to acetylcholine was reduced following hyperoxic injury. Control vessels relaxed completely to acetylcholine addition, while only a 30% relaxation was recorded in adult hyperoxic arteries and a 50% relaxation was measured in weanling hyperoxic tissues. This effect on vasodilation was specific for the endothelium-dependent dilator ACh. By contrast, relaxation responses to sodium nitroprusside and papaverine, endothelium-independent agonists, were unaffected following hyperoxic injury. These results demonstrate that in vivo exposure to high O2 concentrations increases the sensitivity of isolated pulmonary arteries to the vasoconstrictor PGF2 alpha and markedly diminishes the ability of ACh to relax precontracted pulmonary vessels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Acetylcholine; Animals; Dinoprost; Endothelium, Vascular; Hypoxia; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Pulmonary Artery; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Time Factors; Vasodilation

The effect of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) on the hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstrictor (HPV) response was studied in 12 closed-chest dogs anesthetized with pentobarbital and paralyzed with pancuronium. The right lung was ventilated continuously with 100% O2, while the left lung was either ventilated with 100% O2 ("hyperoxia") or ventilated with an hypoxic gas mixture ("hypoxia:" end-tidal PO2 approximately equal to 50.0 +/- 0.1 mmHg). Cardiac output (CO) was altered from a "normal" value of 2.89 +/- 0.26 1.min-1 to a "high" value of 3.55 +/- 0.26 1.min-1 by opening arteriovenous fistulae which allowed measurements of two points along a pressure-flow line. These four phases of left lung hypoxia or hyperoxia with normal and high cardiac output were performed in the absence of, and in the presence of, PGF2 alpha administered as a constant peripheral intravenous infusion of 1.0 microgram.kg-1.min-1. During left lung hypoxia, mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) increased significantly when compared to hyperoxia. With PGF2 alpha administration, mean PAP increased significantly during both hyperoxia and hypoxia. The presence or absence of PGF2 alpha had no effect on cardiac output or PaO2 during hypoxia. Relative blood flow to each lung was measured with a differential CO2 excretion (VCO2) method corrected for the Haldane effect. With both lungs hyperoxic, the percent left lung blood flow (%QL-VCO2) was 45 +/- 1%. When the left lung was exposed to hypoxia, the %QL-VCO2 decreased significantly to 29 +/- 3%. However, with the administration of PGF2 alpha, the %QL-VCO2 during left lung hypoxia did not change significantly 26 +/- 3%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Animals; Dinoprost; Dogs; Female; Hypoxia; Infusions, Intravenous; Lung; Prostaglandins F; Vasoconstriction

We studied the homeostatic secretory response of catecholamine secretion elicited by progressive bronchoconstriction in 18 swine in vivo. The potential reserve of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) was first assessed by exogenous nicotinic stimulation with 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium iodide (DMPP). A dose of 250 micrograms/kg iv DMPP caused an increase in plasma norepinephrine (NE) concentration from 207 +/- 86 (basal) to 2,625 +/- 448 pg/ml (P less than 0.02) and in plasma epinephrine (EPI) from 10 +/- 5.0 to 1,410 +/- 432 pg/ml (P less than 0.05) in four swine. In four other swine, bronchoconstriction induced by aerosolized prostaglandin F2 alpha caused approximately a fivefold increase in airway resistance without hemodynamic changes. No increase in plasma EPI was observed. However, plasma NE increased from 330 +/- 131 to 1,540 +/- 182 pg/ml (P less than 0.02). In five swine receiving aerosolized acetylcholine (ACh), similar changes in airways resistance were not associated with significant changes in catecholamine concentration when mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) was unchanged. However, inhalation of sufficient ACh to cause a greater than 10% decrease in MAP caused progressive increase in catecholamine secretion. Plasma EPI increased from 32 +/- 16 (MAP = 124 +/- 7 Torr) to 1,165 +/- 522 pg/ml (MAP = 94 +/- Torr). Hypoxemia that occurred with bronchoconstriction (greater than or equal to 50 Torr) did not cause catecholamine secretion. However, severe hypoxemia (PO2 less than 30 Torr) caused large increases in plasma EPI concentrations from 84 +/- 27 to 1,463 +/- 945 pg/ml (P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Acetylcholine; Animals; Dinoprost; Epinephrine; Female; Homeostasis; Hypoxia; Kinetics; Male; Muscle, Smooth; Norepinephrine; Prostaglandins F; Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; Respiratory System; Swine; Sympathetic Nervous System

We have observed that the contents of prostaglandin (PG) D2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha were five times higher than those of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha in rat gastric mucosa. In order to elucidate the role of PGs in the function of gastric mucosa, we studied the effect of hypoxia on the levels of PGs in relation to the degree of gastric mucosal lesions. 6-Keto-PGF1 alpha levels were significantly decreased only by severe and long-term hypoxia (10% O2, 18 hours) when severe ulcerative lesions were observed. PGE2 levels were significantly decreased even by mild and short-term hypoxia (13% O2, 4 hours) when slight ulcerative lesions were observed. PGF2 alpha and PGD2 levels were significantly decreased by mild and short-term hypoxia; however, there was no significant difference from the control group under severe and long-term hypoxia. These results suggest that each of the PGs plays a different role in the pathogenesis of acute gastric mucosal lesions induced by hypoxia.

Topics: Animals; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Epoprostenol; Gastric Mucosa; Hypoxia; Male; Prostaglandin D2; Prostaglandins D; Prostaglandins E; Prostaglandins F; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Stomach Ulcer

Substance P is a vasoactive peptide. Nerve fibers containing substance P are present in the media of pulmonary arteries but the physiologic function of substance P in the pulmonary vasculature is unknown. Several doses of substance P were infused intravenously in the anesthetized dog to ascertain its effects on the pulmonary vasculature, both during normoxia and following preconstriction with hypoxia (F1O2 0.1) or prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha 5 mug/kg/min). Substance P resulted in systemic vasodilation during normoxia but had minimal effect on the pulmonary vasculature. During hypoxia and PGF2 alpha-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction, substance P significantly lowered pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, mean aortic pressure, and total systemic resistance. It had no effect on cardiac output, wedge pressure, and arterial blood gases. To investigate possible mechanisms for substance P-induced vasodilation, substance P was studied following pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine (a radical scavenging agent), methylene blue (an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase), meclofenamate (a cyclooxygenase inhibitor), and atropine (a muscarinic receptor antagonist). None of these agents impaired substance P-induced vasodilation. Substance P given intravenously is a nonselective vasodilator in the dog but the mechanism of its action remains uncertain.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Aorta; Atropine; Blood Pressure; Dinoprost; Dogs; Hypoxia; Lung; Meclofenamic Acid; Methylene Blue; Prostaglandins F; Pulmonary Artery; Substance P; Vascular Resistance; Vasoconstriction

Vasodilator therapy in pulmonary hypertension is limited by the lack of an agent selective for the pulmonary circulation. The effects of intravenous prostacyclin and two stable prostaglandin analogs, ZK 36-374 and CL 115,347, were assessed on the preconstricted pulmonary vasculature of the anesthetized dog. During hypoxic vasoconstriction ZK 36-374 (0.4 micrograms/kg per min) markedly reduced pulmonary artery pressure (26 +/- 3 to 13 +/- 1 mm Hg) (p less than 0.05) and pulmonary vascular resistance (6.2 +/- 1.1 to 2.8 +/- 0.2 mm Hg/liter per min) (p less than 0.01). There was no significant effect on cardiac output, aortic pressure or arterial blood gases. Pulmonary vasoconstriction induced by prostaglandin F2 alpha was similarly affected by ZK 36-374, and in this instance the aortic pressure was also reduced (158 +/- 11 to 129 +/- 11 mm Hg) (p less than 0.01). ZK 36-374 (0.2 micrograms/kg per min) was more effective in lowering hypoxic pulmonary vascular resistance (from 6.5 +/- 0.6 to 3.0 +/- 0.3 mm Hg/liter per min) than was prostacyclin (0.75 micrograms/kg per min) (from 6.3 +/- 0.6 to 4.2 +/- 0.4 mm Hg/liter per min) (p less than 0.05) and resulted in a smaller fall in aortic pressure (p less than 0.05). CL 115,347 (1.0 micrograms/kg per min) had no effect on the pulmonary vasculature during normoxia or when preconstricted by prostaglandin F2 alpha or hypoxia, but reduced aortic pressure and total systemic resistance (p less than 0.05). It appears to be a selective systemic vasodilator with no pulmonary vascular activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Animals; Cardiovascular Agents; Dinoprost; Dogs; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Epoprostenol; Female; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Hypoxia; Iloprost; Male; Prostaglandins F; Pulmonary Circulation; Vascular Resistance

Experiments were designed to determine the role of the endothelial cells and the metabolism of arachidonic acid in anoxic contractions of isolated canine basilar arteries. Rings, with and without endothelium, of these arteries were suspended for isometric tension recording; anoxia was induced by switching the mixture gassing the organ chamber from 95% O2-5% CO2 to 95% N2-5% CO2. In rings with endothelium, anoxia evoked increases in tension under basal conditions and during contractions to 5-hydroxytryptamine, uridine triphosphate, prostaglandin F2 alpha, and high K+. Under control conditions, these anoxic contractions were not prevented by alpha-adrenergic and serotonergic antagonists, by apyrase, or by inhibitors of cyclooxygenase. Anoxia prevented endothelium-dependent relaxations evoked by vasopressin and thrombin. In rings without endothelium, anoxia caused increases in tension during contractions evoked by various agonists, and in unstimulated preparations after inhibition of cyclooxygenase. Anoxic contractions were abolished by calcium entry blockers. These observations suggest that anoxic contractions of isolated canine basilar artery can be explained by the release of endothelium-derived contracting factor(s) and the accelerated entry of calcium in the smooth muscle cells, which possibly results from a diversion of arachidonic acid from the cyclooxygenase to the lipoxygenase pathway.

Topics: Animals; Arachidonic Acid; Arachidonic Acids; Calcium; Cerebral Arteries; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Diltiazem; Dinoprost; Dogs; Endothelium; Female; Hypoxia; Male; Potassium; Prostaglandins F; Serotonin; Uridine Triphosphate; Vasoconstriction

Experiments were designed to determine the effects of the vasoactive drug naftidrofuryl on vascular smooth muscle, endothelial cells and adrenergic nerves in isolated canine blood vessels. Naftidrofuryl inhibited contractions of basilar arteries (in a decreasing order of potency), evoked by 5-hydroxytryptamine greater than KCl = anoxia (in rings with endothelium) greater than prostaglandin F2 alpha = uridine-5'-triphosphate. Naftidrofuryl antagonized competitively the contractions evoked by 5-hydroxytryptamine in the femoral artery and the saphenous vein. Naftidrofuryl caused the release of an endothelium-derived relaxing factor(s) from the endothelium of femoral arteries. The compound depressed contractions of saphenous veins evoked by electrical stimulation of the adrenergic nerve endings, but not those caused by the indirect sympathomimetic amine tyramine or exogenous norepinephrine. In saphenous veins incubated previously with [3H]norepinephrine, the drug inhibited the contractions and the release of transmitter evoked by electrical stimulation. Thus, naftidrofuryl acts at different levels in the blood vessel wall to cause: release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor(s); inhibition of S2-serotonergic receptors on vascular smooth muscle; prejunctional inhibition of adrenergic neurotransmission; and nonselective inhibition of the contractile process in vascular smooth muscle, which is particularly pronounced in cerebral arteries.

Topics: Adrenergic Fibers; Animals; Biological Assay; Cocaine; Dinoprost; Dogs; Electric Stimulation; Endothelium; Female; Femoral Artery; Furans; Hypoxia; Male; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Nafronyl; Norepinephrine; Prostaglandins F; Saphenous Vein; Serotonin; Synaptic Transmission; Vasoconstriction

We studied the role of the sympathetic nervous system in the augmented vasoconstrictor response of the newborn lamb, compared with the adult sheep, by producing a chemical sympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Seven lambs, age 4-16 days, and five sheep, age 2 yr, were anesthetized and intubated with a double-lumen endotracheal tube, allowing ventilation of one lung with O2 to maintain systemic oxygenation while the contralateral lung was ventilated with N2 as a hypoxic challenge. Distribution of perfusion to each lung was evaluated using positron scintigraphy after inferior vena caval injections of 13N, a positron-emitting isotope. In the lambs, prior to 6-OHDA, distribution of perfusion to the test lung was 43 +/- 3% of total lung perfusion during bilateral O2 ventilation and fell with hypoxia to 24 +/- 2%, a reduction of 44 +/- 3% during N2 ventilation as compared with O2 ventilation. After 6-OHDA, hypoxic challenge reduced perfusion by only 22 +/- 2% (P less than 0.01 compared with pre-6-OHDA). In the adult sheep, hypoxic vasoconstriction reduced perfusion to the test lung by 28 +/- 2% but was unaffected by 6-OHDA. Absence of rise in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) or femoral artery pressure (Pfa) in response to Tyramine infusions after 6-OHDA confirmed complete sympathectomy in lambs and sheep. Persistent increases in PVR and Pfa to infusions of prostaglandin F2 alpha before and after 6-OHDA showed that the loss of alveolar hypoxic vasoconstriction in the lamb was specific. Thus sympathetic innervation may contribute to the greater strength of alveolar hypoxic vasoconstriction found in lambs than in sheep.

Topics: Aging; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Blood Pressure; Cardiac Output; Dinoprost; Hydroxydopamines; Hypoxia; Nitrogen; Oxidopamine; Perfusion; Prostaglandins F; Pulmonary Alveoli; Respiration; Sheep; Sympathectomy, Chemical; Sympathetic Nervous System; Tyramine; Vascular Resistance; Vasoconstriction

The reported actions of arachidonic acid in the adult pulmonary circulation are controversial. Some authors reported that arachidonic acid causes only pulmonary vasoconstriction; others have found decreases in pulmonary vascular resistance with low-dose infusions. We have previously reported that arachidonic acid causes only pulmonary vasoconstriction in perinatal lambs during both normoxia and hypoxia. The effects of arachidonic acid on pulmonary vascular resistance were determined in adult sheep using an in situ pump-perfused left lower lung preparation. Arachidonic acid infusions (10.5-31.9 micrograms/kg . min) resulted in pulmonary vasoconstriction. The pulmonary vascular response to arachidonic acid was not altered by hypoxia or by infusion of PGF2 alpha. However, the pulmonary pressor response to hypoxia was increased by concomitant arachidonate infusions. Infusions of arachidonic acid during hypoxia resulted in systemic hypotension. Thus, pulmonary arachidonate metabolism appears to be unaffected by hypoxia or PGF2 alpha; however, hypoxia may enhance the formation of dilator PG's from the lung.

Topics: Animals; Arachidonic Acid; Arachidonic Acids; Blood Pressure; Dinoprost; Hypoxia; Prostaglandins F; Pulmonary Circulation; Sheep; Vascular Resistance; Vasoconstriction

In view of recent findings which suggest that renal prostaglandins mediate the effect of hypoxia on erythropoietin production, we have studied whether hypoxia is a stimulus for in vitro prostaglandin synthesis. Studies were carried out in rat renal mesangial cell cultures which produce erythropoietin in an oxygen-dependent manner. Production rates of PGE2 and in specified samples also of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, as a measure of PGI2, and PGF2 alpha were determined by radioimmunoassay after incubation at either 20% O2 (normoxic) or 2% O2 (hypoxic) in gas permeable dishes for 24 hrs. Considerable variation in PGE2 production was noted among independent cell lines. PGE2 production appeared to be inversely correlated to the cellular density of the cultures. In addition, PGE2 production was enhanced in hypoxic cell cultures. The mean increase was 50 to 60%. PGF2 alpha and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha increased by about the same rate. These results indicate that hypoxia is a stimulus for in vitro prostaglandin production.

Topics: 6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; Animals; Culture Techniques; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Hypoxia; Kidney Glomerulus; Male; Prostaglandins; Prostaglandins E; Prostaglandins F; Rats

Calcium channel blockers sometimes reduce pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in patients with pulmonary hypertension. This study compares the pulmonary vasodilator effect of two new calcium channel blockers, nisoldipine and bepridil, to that of nifedipine in three groups of anesthetized dogs (n = 8 for each group). In each group the normoxic hemodynamics were recorded before and after low, medium and high doses of the respective agents given i.v. In addition, the effect of these doses on the pulmonary pressor responses to hypoxia and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF 2 alpha) was measured. During normoxia all doses of bepridil caused brief increases in cardiac output. However, during the hypoxic and PGF 2 alpha challenges cardiac output fell and PVR rose above predrug responses, rather than being reduced. Nisoldipine produced a sustained increase in cardiac output throughout the experiment. During hypoxia, at high dose, it decreased pulmonary arterial pressure, unlike the two other agents. However, in common with them, nisoldipine also caused systemic hypotension. After medium and high dose nisoldipine and after high dose nifedipine, PVR remained close to normoxic control levels during both hypoxic and PGF 2 alpha challenges. Both medium dose nisoldipine (5 X 10(-8) M/kg) and high dose nifedipine (5 X 10(-7) M/kg) reduced hypoxic PVR by 39% of the untreated hypoxic value. Although nisoldipine is more effective in reducing pulmonary hypertension than nifedipine or bepridil, it also causes marked systemic hypotension. This lack of specificity may limit the therapeutic potential of this agent when given i.v.

Topics: Animals; Bepridil; Blood Gas Analysis; Calcium Channel Blockers; Dinoprost; Dogs; Female; Hemodynamics; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Hypoxia; Male; Nifedipine; Nisoldipine; Prostaglandins F; Pyrrolidines

To study the effect of chronic cigarette smoke exposure on the resistive properties of the pulmonary vasculature, left lower lobes from 12 control beagles and 6 beagles who had smoked cigarettes (50 cigarettes/wk for 40 wk) were perfused in situ to measure the vascular pressure-flow relationship and the resistance of the three vascular segments with the arterial and venous occlusion technique. In control subjects the vascular resistance in the arterial, middle, and venous segments was 23, 36, and 41% of the total, respectively. The segmental distribution of vascular resistance was not significantly different in the cigarette smoke-exposed dogs, despite the fact that the absolute values were 30-40% less than that of the control group. The longitudinal distribution of resistance among the three vascular segments and their response to drugs were different in beagles than was previously found in mongrels. In all beagles the veins were considerably more reactive than arteries. Vasoconstriction with serotonin (5-HT) prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), norepinephrine, histamine, and methacholine (M) infusion occurred predominantly in the veins. The effect of PGF2 alpha and 5-HT was totally different than that previously observed in mongrels in which the constriction was predominantly in the arteries. Chronic cigarette smoking reduced the basal pulmonary vascular resistance and attenuated the venoconstrictor response to 5-HT and M but potentiated the hypoxic pressor response of the microvessels.

Topics: Animals; Dinoprost; Dogs; Histamine; Hypoxia; Methacholine Chloride; Methacholine Compounds; Norepinephrine; Prostaglandins F; Pulmonary Circulation; Regional Blood Flow; Serotonin; Smoking; Vascular Resistance; Vasoconstriction

The anti-hypoxic effect of drugs that inhibit different steps of arachidonic acid metabolism was studied using an experimental model of acute hypobaric hypoxia in mice. The drugs investigated were chloroquine, betamethasone, chlorpromazine (phospholipase A2 inhibitors), ketoprofen (cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor) and imidazole (TxA2 synthetase inhibitor). Prostacyclin (PGI2) and PGF2 alpha were also studied. The results show that all the inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism manifest an anti-hypoxic effect of a various degree. PGF2 alpha had a deleterious effect, and PGI2 showed a marked anti-hypoxic effect. The results suggest that it is advantageous to search for anti-hypoxic drugs among the blockers of arachidonic acid cascade.

Topics: Animals; Arachidonic Acid; Arachidonic Acids; Betamethasone; Chloroquine; Chlorpromazine; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Dinoprost; Epoprostenol; Female; Hypoxia; Imidazoles; Ketoprofen; Mice; Phospholipases A; Phospholipases A2; Prostaglandins F; Thromboxane-A Synthase

Pulmonary hemodynamic responses to several prostaglandins (PGs) are augmented by hypoxia. To test whether responses to vasoconstrictor PGs would be enhanced in hypoxic areas of the lung, resulting in redistribution of blood flow to well-oxygenated areas, the effects of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha were evaluated in anesthetized dogs with divided ventilation, one lung being ventilated with 100% N2 and the other with 100% O2. Thermal dilution techniques coupled with electromagnetic flow measurements permitted estimates of blood flow to each lung. After indomethacin (5 mg/kg i.v.), PGE2 at 0.01, 0.025 and 0.10 micrograms/kg/min i.v. produced significant increases in flow to the O2-ventilated lung at each dose. In addition, PGE2 increased total pulmonary blood flow, but only at the two larger doses. Concomitantly, systemic arterial PO2 increased from 104 +/- 21 to 138 +/- 26 mm Hg (P less than .001). Identical results were obtained when meclofenamate (5 mg/kg i.v.) was used to block PG synthesis. PGF2 alpha increased total pulmonary blood flow (P less than .01) only at the largest dose (0.10 micrograms/kg/min), but did not redistribute flow or increase PO2. Atrial pacing increased total pulmonary blood flow (P less than .001) and flow to both O2 (P less than .001)- and N2 (P less than .05)-ventilated lungs with no change in PO2. We conclude that PGE2 redistributes pulmonary blood flow to well-oxygenated alveoli through mechanisms not related solely to its vasoconstrictor properties or to its capacity to increase cardiac output.

Topics: Animals; Cardiac Output; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Dogs; Hypoxia; Indomethacin; Male; Meclofenamic Acid; Nitrogen; Oxygen; Prostaglandins E; Prostaglandins F; Pulmonary Circulation; Regional Blood Flow

In a clinical study the intraoperative changes in prostaglandin levels and their possible influence on venous admixture during one-lung anesthesia are investigated in 9 patients undergoing abdomino-thoracic resection of a carcinoma of the oesophagus. During one-lung anesthesia PaO2 decreased and Qsp/Qt increased significantly. In 7 of the 9 patients prostaglandin E2 in the arterial blood was significantly above normal level during two-lung- and one-lung ventilation, prostaglandin F2 alpha was below normal values in all patients during two-lung- and one-lung ventilation. The clear prevalence of vasodilating prostaglandin E2 may have reduced the effectiveness of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction during one-lung ventilation.

Topics: Anesthesia; Blood Pressure; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Esophageal Neoplasms; Heart; Humans; Hypoxia; Male; Middle Aged; Prostaglandins; Prostaglandins E; Prostaglandins F; Pulmonary Circulation; Respiration; Vasoconstriction

The role of calcium-channel blocking agents in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension is not well defined. Consequently, the effects of diltiazem, nifedipine, and verapamil were compared in 3 groups of anesthetized dogs (n = 6 for each group). In each group, normoxic hemodynamic variables were recorded before and after increasing doses of diltiazem, nifedipine, and verapamil (5 X 10(-8) M/kg, low; 10(-7) M/kg, medium; and 10(-6) M/kg, high dose; given intravenously over 2 minutes). In addition, the effect of these doses on the pulmonary pressor responses to hypoxia (fractional inspired oxygen concentration [FIO2] 12%) and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) (5 micrograms/kg/min, intravenously for 4 minutes) was measured. During normoxia, high-dose nifedipine and verapamil decreased mean aortic pressure and systemic vascular resistance while increasing cardiac output in all dogs in both groups (p less than 0.01). Pulmonary vascular resistance, however, remained unchanged. High-dose diltiazem did not significantly alter cardiac output or pulmonary vascular resistance. During acute hypoxic pulmonary hypertension, verapamil decreased cardiac output by 30% (p less than 0.01) without appreciably altering pulmonary arterial pressure; thus pulmonary vascular resistance increased slightly (4.9 +/- 0.6 to 6.4 +/- 1.0 mm Hg/liter/min, difference not significant [NS]). Nifedipine decreased hypoxic pulmonary vascular resistance to normoxic values (p less than 0.01). Cardiac output increased 71% while pulmonary arterial pressure remained unchanged. Diltiazem administration produced no change in hypoxic pulmonary hemodynamic variables. The responses to diltiazem, nifedipine, and verapamil during acute pulmonary vasoconstriction induced by PGF2 alpha were similar to those induced by hypoxia. After verapamil, pulmonary vascular resistance tended to increase (7.3 +/- 1.3 to 8.1 +/- 1.4 mm Hg/liter/min, NS). Nifedipine, however, completely blocked pulmonary vasoconstriction by decreasing pulmonary vascular resistance to pre-PGF2 alpha levels (p less than 0.01). This was accompanied by a 157% increase in cardiac output and only a small increase in pulmonary arterial pressure (7 mm Hg). Again, diltiazem produced no change in pulmonary hemodynamic variables. In these acute studies, nifedipine appeared to be a more effective pulmonary vasodilator than verapamil or diltiazem.

Topics: Animals; Benzazepines; Blood Pressure; Cardiac Output; Diltiazem; Dinoprost; Dogs; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Hypoxia; Male; Nifedipine; Prostaglandins F; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure; Pyridines; Vascular Resistance; Verapamil

Diamide oxidizes glutathione and other cellular sulfhydryl groups. It decreases calcium ATPase activity and alters mitochondrial calcium flux, probably as a result of the sulfhydryl oxidation. We examined the effect of diamide (5 mg/kg, iv) on pulmonary vascular reactivity in 12 anesthetized dogs. Diamide reversed the pulmonary vasoconstriction caused by hypoxia in seven dogs (control delta PVR + 2.5 +/- 0.6 mm Hg/liter/min; postdiamide delta PVR - 0.1 +/- 0.4 mm Hg/liter/min; P less than 0.01). The pulmonary pressor response to prostaglandin F2 alpha (5 micrograms/kg/min, iv) was also reduced (control delta PVR + 3.8 +/- 0.5 mm Hg/liter/min; postdiamide delta PVR + 1.1 +/- 0.7 mm Hg/liter/min; P less than 0.01). However, in a further five dogs, diamide had only a small effect on the pulmonary vasoconstriction caused by angiotensin II, while the pressor response to hypoxia was again inhibited. The mechanism by which diamide reverses pulmonary vasoconstriction is not certain but the effect is rapid, consistent, and reversible. Because the intravenous infusion of diamide does not produce systemic hypotension, during its period of action on the pulmonary vasculature, unlike the drugs currently available for the clinical treatment of pulmonary hypertension, further studies of its mechanism of action are indicated.

Topics: Angiotensin II; Animals; Azo Compounds; Depression, Chemical; Diamide; Dinoprost; Dogs; Female; Hypoxia; Lung; Male; Oxygen; Prostaglandins F; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure; Vascular Resistance; Vasoconstriction

We studied the effects of acute hypoxia (Fi02 = 0.09-0.11, 20 min.) on transpulmonary plasma prostaglandin (PG) concentrations in ten anesthetized, paralyzed, artificially ventilated dogs. Concentrations of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, TxB2, PGE2, PGF2 alpha, and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF2 alpha were measured from the pulmonary artery and abdominal aorta using radioimmunoassay. In an additional six dogs, the effects of arachidonic acid (AA) infusions (100 mcg/kg/min) during normoxia and acute hypoxia were determined. Compared to normoxic conditions, acute hypoxia increased pulmonary artery pressure (p less than 0.05), decreased both the arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) and the alveolar-to-arterial oxygen tension gradient (A-aDO2) (p less than 0.05), but did not affect transpulmonary plasma PG concentrations. AA infusions significantly (p less than 0.05) increased 6-keto-PGF1 alpha independent of FiO2. Acute hypoxia failed to elicit a pulmonary pressor response in the AA-treated animals although PaO2 and A-aDO2 decreased (p less than 0.05). These data in healthy dogs suggest that (1) acute hypoxia does not alter net pulmonary PG metabolism, (2) prostacyclin synthesis is stimulated by increased plasma AA concentrations and (3) this effect may block normal pressor responses to hypoxic stimuli.

Topics: 6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; Animals; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Dogs; Female; Heart Rate; Hypoxia; Kinetics; Lung; Male; Prostaglandins; Prostaglandins E; Prostaglandins F; Pulmonary Circulation

The effects of exogenously applied prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) and prostacyclin (PGI2) on asphyxic anoxia was studied in curarized and artificially ventilated cats. Anoxia was induced by stopping the ventilation and checking the changes in the EcoG. Cortical resistance (CRs) was evaluated as time between stopping the ventilation and the extinction of ECoG. Cortical recovery (CRc) was expressed as time between restitution of ventilation and reappearance of brain activity. Anoxia resistance index (ARI) was defined as the ratio between these two parameters (CRs/CRc). PGF2 alpha was applied by 5 minute i.v. and intracarotid (i.c.) infusion in a dose of 10 micrograms/kg/min, and PGI2 in a dose of 250 ng/kg/min for 15 minutes intracarotidly. The results show that both the i.c. and i.v. infusion with PGF2 alpha led to a significant decrease of CRs and prolongation of CRc resulting in decrease of ARI. The changes are more expressed at i.v. infusion, PGI2 does not improve the ECoG changes evoked by hypoxia. Suggestions for the possible mechanism of PGF2 alpha action and for the failure of PGI2 to protect the brain are made.

Topics: Animals; Asphyxia; Cats; Dinoprost; Electroencephalography; Epoprostenol; Female; Hypoxia; Male; Prostaglandins; Prostaglandins F

Topics: Animals; Blood Gas Analysis; Cats; Cerebral Cortex; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Hypercapnia; Hypoxia; Prostaglandins; Prostaglandins E; Prostaglandins F

The effects of hypoxaemia on the synthesis of prostacyclin and prostaglandins in the cerebral microvessels and on the ultrastructure of brain cortex capillaries were investigated in three groups of rats. Series I: rat embryos were kept in hypoxic-hypobaric condition for 42 hours. It resulted in the enhancement of synthesis of PG2alfa and PGE2 even two months after birth. The fine structure of the capillary endothelium remained without any pathological change. Series II: adult male rats were on hypoxic-hypobaric environment for 42 hours. There was a slight increase in the synthesis of PGE2 and PGD2 while the ultrastructure of brain capillaries was found to be normal. Series III: the hypoxic-hypobaric condition lasted for 240 hours in adult male rats. This long term hypoxaemia affected greatly the prostaglandin synthesis of brain cortex capillaries and resulted in changes in the fine structure of brain microvessels as well. The possible molecular mechanism activated by hypoxaemia in brain capillaries is discussed.

Topics: Animals; Blood-Brain Barrier; Capillaries; Cerebral Cortex; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Epoprostenol; Female; Hypoxia; Male; Prostaglandins; Prostaglandins E; Prostaglandins F; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains

The contractile activity of uterine horns maintained for 90 to 120 minutes under normal oxygenation (carbogen or 100% O2) became undetectable. When in this condition the gassing was stopped one or two minutes later, regular phasic contractions appeared super-imposed on a small increment of the basal resting tone. Indomethacin and aspirin well known inhibitors of prostaglandin (PG) synthesis, blocked the contractile influence of hypoxia whereas neither tranylcypromine or imidazole were able to alter the stimulatory action. PGE2, PGE1 and PGF2 alpha released into the bathing solution during 10 minutes of normoxia or 10 minutes of hypoxia, were measured. Under O2, PGE2 and PGF2 alpha production diminished significantly (P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.01, normoxia vs. hypoxia, respectively) whereas PGe1 increased (P less than 0.05). "PGI2-like material" generated was also detected and it was found that the values during hypoxia were lower than those observed in O2; however the difference was not statistically significant. Dose-response contractile activity to PGs with and without gassing was explored. It was necessary to add 100 times more PGF2 alpha to obtain the minimal response under hypoxic conditions as compared to normoxia. On the other hand the threshold response to PGE1 was 10 times lower under hypoxic conditions than in normoxia. The possible mechanism(s) that induce an increment in PGE1 generation accompanied by a simultaneous decrement of PGE2 during hypoxia is discussed in connection with a possible role of PGE1 evoking uterine contractions when the gassing of the suspending solution is stopped.

Topics: Alprostadil; Animals; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Female; Hypoxia; Oxygen; Prostaglandins E; Prostaglandins F; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Uterine Contraction; Uterus

The pulmonary pressor responses to prostaglandin F2 alpha, 5-hydroxytryptamine, angiotensin II, and alveolar hypoxia were significantly increased when blood flow was reduced from 10 to 5 ml/min in isolated perfused rat lungs. When blood flow was increased from 10 to 15 ml/min, the pressor responses to hypoxia and angiotensin II were reduced. We speculated that the changes in pulmonary vascular reactivity with alterations in blood flow were due to vessel distension and changes in vessel wall-to-lumen ratios and consequent effects on mechanical contractile efficiency.

Topics: Angiotensin II; Animals; Blood Pressure; Blood Vessels; Dinoprost; Hypoxia; Lung; Male; Prostaglandins F; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Regional Blood Flow; Serotonin; Vascular Resistance