Increased Lobar Arterial Pressure Research Articles

Influence of TMB-8 and Thapsigargin on Vasoconstrictor Responses in the Pulmonary Vascular Bed of the Cat

The effects of 8-(diethylamino)octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate hydrochloride (TMB-8), a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, and thapsigargin, a CaATPase inhibitor, on pressor responses were studied in the pulmonary vascular bed of the intact-chest anesthetized cat. Under conditions of constant lobar blood flow in the cat, injections of the angiotensin peptides (ANG II), norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT), Bay K 8644, and the thromboxane A2 mimic U46619 into the lobar arterial perfusion circuit caused dose-related increases in lobar arterial pressure and responses were reproducible with respect to time. Intravenous infusion of TMB-8 at 1.0 mug . kg reduced the pressor response to the ANG II and to NE. However, TMB-8 did not alter pressor responses to 5-HT, U46619, or Bay K 8644. In a separate series of experiments, the effects of thapsigargin were investigated and intravenous infusion of the CaATPase inhibitor at 1.0 mug . kg also reduced pressor responses to the ANG II and to NE but did not alter pressor responses to 5-HT, U46619, and Bay K 8644. The data provide support for the hypothesis that vasoconstrictor responses to ANG II and NE in the pulmonary vascular bed are mediated in part by the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) and sarcoplasmic reticulum CaATPase-sensitive mechanisms in the cat. The present data suggest that pulmonary pressor responses to U46619, 5-HT, and Bay K 8644 are not mediated by PKC or CaATPase activation in the pulmonary vascular bed of the cat.

Analysis of responses to angiotensin I (3-10) and Leu3 angiotensin (3-8) in the pulmonary vascular bed of the cat.

Pulmonary vascular responses to angiotensin (3-8) (Ang IV), leu3 angiotensin (3-8) (LeuAng IV), an Ang IV analog and angiotensin I (3-10) [Ang I (3-10)], the precursor for Ang IV, were investigated in the intact-chest cat under conditions of controlled blood flow. Intralobar injections of Ang IV, LeuAng IV, and Ang I (3-10) caused dosage-related increases in lobar arterial pressure. When responses were compared, Ang IV, LeuAng IV, and Ang I (3-10) were equipotent and were approximately 100- to 300-fold less potent than Ang II when dosages are expressed on a nanomolar basis. DuP 753, an angiotensin II type 1 (AT1 ) receptor antagonist, attenuated pulmonary vasoconstrictor responses to LeuAng IV, Ang IV, and its precursor, Ang I (3-10), but did not significantly change pressor responses to serotonin, norepinephrine, or U46619. PD 123319, an angiotensin II type 2 (AT2 ) receptor antagonist, and WSU 3033, a putative angiotensin II type 4 (AT4 ) receptor antagonist, did not significantly change pressor responses to LeuAng IV, Ang IV, and its precursor, Ang I (3-10). Captopril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, decreased pulmonary vasoconstrictor responses to Ang I (3-10) but did not significantly change responses to serotonin, norepinephrine, U46619, LeuAng IV, or Ang IV. These data show that LeuAng IV, Ang IV, and its precursor, Ang I (3-10), increase pulmonary vascular resistance by activating AT1 receptors, and that Ang I (3-10) is rapidly and efficiently converted by an ACE-dependent pathway into an active peptide. The present data suggest that Ang IV and LeuAng IV increase pulmonary vascular resistance by activating AT1 receptors and that activation of AT2 or AT4 are not involved in mediating or modulating responses to these peptides. These data provide support for the hypothesis that Ang I (3-10) is converted into an active peptide by ACE at or near the site of action within the pulmonary vascular bed.

Differential effects of glibenclamide on responses to thromboxane A2 mimic, U46619, in the pulmonary and hindquarters vascular beds of the cat

The inhibitory effects of the oral sulfonylurea, glibenclamide, on vasoconstrictor responses to the thromboxane A 2 mimic, U46619, were investigated in the pulmonary and hindquarters vascular beds of the cat under constant flow conditions. When lobar arterial tone was at resting conditions (14±2 mm Hg), intralobar injections of U46619, prostaglandin F 2 α , prostaglandin D 2, angiotensin II, norepinephrine, and BAY K 8644 caused dose-related increases in lobar arterial pressure without altering left atrial pressure. Following an intralobar infusion of glibenclamide (5 mg/kg), vasoconstrictor responses to U46619, prostaglandin F 2 α and prostaglandin D 2 were significantly reduced, whereas vasoconstrictor responses to norepinephrine and angiotensin II were not altered and responses to BAY K 8644 were significantly enhanced. When tone in the pulmonary vascular bed was raised to a high steady level (36±3 mm Hg), glibenclamide in a dose of 5 mg/kg i.a. markedly attenuated responses to injections of U46619 and reduced the vasodilator responses to the K +-ATP channel opener, levcromakalim, whereas responses to acetylcholine and S-nitroso- N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), a nitric oxide donor, were not changed. In the hindquarters vascular bed of the cat, administration of glibenclamide in a dose of 5 mg/kg i.a. had no significant effect on vasoconstrictor responses to U46619, norepinephrine or angiotensin II. Hindquarters vasodilator responses to levcromakalim, but not to nitric oxide, were decreased significantly following administration of glibenclamide. These data suggest that glibenclamide, in addition to inhibiting K +-ATP channels, has thromboxane A 2 receptor blocking activity in the pulmonary vascular bed of the cat. These data also suggest that vasoconstrictor responses to U46619 may be mediated by different thromboxane A 2 receptors with different binding affinities in the pulmonary and in the hindquarters vascular beds of the cat.

Differential effects of L-N5-(1-iminoethyl)-ornithine on tone and endothelium-dependent vasodilator responses.

The effects of the nitric oxide (NO) synthesis inhibitor L-N5-(1-iminoethyl)-ornithine (L-NIO) on baseline tone and on responses to the endothelium-dependent vasodilator agents were investigated in the pulmonary vascular bed of the cat under constant-flow conditions. When administered in doses of 1 and 5 mg/kg i.v., L-NIO inhibited pulmonary vasodilator responses to acetylcholine, bradykinin, and substance P but did not alter vasodilator responses to adenosine, pinacidil, or adrenomedullin. L-NIO in doses of 1-10 mg/kg i.v. did not significantly affect baseline lobar arterial pressure, and when administered in doses of 10-30 mg/kg i.v. the inhibitory effect on responses to bradykinin and substance P was not greater than that observed when the lower doses of L-NIO were administered. L-NIO in doses of 5-30 mg/kg i.v. reduced plasma reactive nitrogen intermediate levels. The inhibitory effects of L-NIO were similar to the inhibitory effects of N omega-nitro-L-arginine, N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, and N omega-nitro-L-arginine benzyl ester. The highest dose of L-NIO studied (30 mg/kg i.v.) caused a significant increased in lobar arterial pressure, and the administration of N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (100 mg/kg i.v.) caused a significant increase in lobar arterial pressure in animals previously treated with L-NIO (1 mg/kg i.v.). The results of the present study show that the effects of L-NIO on endothelium-dependent vasodilator responses and on baseline tone can be separated and may be interpreted to suggest that basal release of NO does not play an important role in the maintenance of baseline tone in the pulmonary vascular bed of the cat.

Effects of phospholipase A2, 12-lipoxygenase, and cyclooxygenase inhibitors in the feline pulmonary bed.

The effects of phosphonofluoridic acid, methyl-5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenyl ester (MAFP), a phospholipase A2 inhibitor, on pressor responses to angiotensin II (ANG II), norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT), the calcium channel opener BAY K 8644, and the thromboxane A2 mimic U-46619 were studied in the pulmonary vascular bed of the intact-chest cat. Under conditions of constant lobar blood flow, injections of ANG II, NE, 5-HT, U-46619, and BAY K 8644 into the lobar arterial perfusion circuit caused dose-related increases in lobar arterial pressure that were reproducible with respect to time. Infusion of MAFP into the perfused lobar artery at doses of 100 to 300 microg/kg for 10 min significantly reduced vasoconstrictor responses to ANG II; however, the phospholipase A2 inhibitor did not alter vasoconstrictor responses to BAY K 8644, 5-HT, NE, or U-46619. The combination of the higher dose of the phospholipase A2 inhibitor MAFP with the phospholipase C inhibitor U-73122 significantly affected vasoconstrictor responses to ANG II, NE, and 5-HT but not to BAY K 8644. In a separate series of animals, the effects of a lipoxygenase inhibitor, baicalein, were investigated. Infusion of baicalein into the perfused lobar artery at doses of 100 microg/kg for 10 min significantly reduced vasoconstrictor responses to ANG II but not the vasoconstrictor responses to BAY K 8644, 5-HT, NE, or U-46619. In a final series of experiments, the effects of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, meclofenamate, were investigated, and intravenous injection of the meclofenamate at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg did not significantly affect vasoconstrictor responses to ANG II, 5-HT, BAY K 8644, NE, or U-46619. These data provide support for the hypothesis that pulmonary vasopressor responses to ANG II are mediated, in part, by the activation of phospholipase A2, phospholipase C, and the lipoxygenase pathway in the pulmonary vascular bed of the cat.

Inhibitory Effects of LY301875 on Responses to Angiotensin Peptides in Pulmonary Vascular Bed of the Cat.

The effects of the nonpeptide angiotensin receptor antagonist LY301875 on responses to angiotensin II, angiotensin III, and angiotensin IV were investigated in the pulmonary vascular bed of the intact cat chest. Under conditions of controlled blood flow, injections of the angiotensin peptides into the perfused lobar artery caused dose-related increases in lobar arterial pressure, and LY301875 decreased pressor responses to angiotensin II, angiotensin III, and angiotensin IV. The duration of the blockade was related to the dose of the antagonist, and LY301875 had no significant effect on pressor responses to U-46619, norepinephrine, serotonin or BAY K 8644. LY301875 caused minimal decreases on mean baseline systemic arterial pressures and did not significantly affect lobar arterial pressure in the cat. These results indicate that LY301875 is a potent selective long-acting angiotensin receptor antagonist and suggest that this agent may be useful in the investigation of the role of angiotensin peptides in physiological and pathophysiological processes in the pulmonary vascular bed.

Adenosine A1 and A2 receptors mediate tone-dependent responses in feline pulmonary vascular bed.

Adenosine produces tone-dependent pulmonary vascular responses; however, the adenosine receptor subtype mediating these responses is unknown. In the present study, the adenosine receptor subtypes mediating tone-dependent responses were investigated, Intralobar injections of adenosine,ATP, and analogues under low-tone conditions caused dose-related increases in lobar arterial pressure; the order of potency was alpha,beta-methylene ATP (alpha,beta-metATP) > N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) > ATP > adenosine. Under low-tone conditions, pressor responses to adenosine, ATP, and CPA, an adenosine A1-receptor agonist, were reduced by KW-3902, an adenosine A1-receptor antagonist, whereas KW-3902 and meclofenamate had no effect on responses to alpha,beta-metATP, norepinephrine, serotonin, or angiotensin II. Under elevated-tone conditions, injections of adenosine, ATP, and analogues caused dose-related decreases in lobar arterial pressure, and adenosine was 10-fold less potent than 5'-(N-cyclopropyl)-carboxamidoadenosine (CPCA), an A2-receptor agonist, and ATP. KF-17837, an A2-receptor antagonist, reduced vasodilator responses to adenosine and CPCA, whereas responses to ATP, isoproterenol, diethylamine-NO, lemakalim, and bradykinin were not changed. The vasodilator responses to adenosine were not attenuated by Nw-nitro-L-arginine benzyl ester, methylene blue, or U-37883A. These results suggest that vasoconstrictor responses to adenosine are mediated by A1 receptors and the release of vasoconstrictor prostanoids, and that, under elevated-tone conditions, vasodilator responses are mediated by A2 receptors but not the release of nitric oxide or the activation of guanylate cyclase or K+ATP channels.

Responses to L-163,491, a nonpeptide angiotensin II mimic, in the pulmonary vascular bed of the cat

Pulmonary vascular responses to 5,7-dimethyl-2-ethyl-3-[[2′-[(butyloxycarbonyl)amino-sulfonyl]-5′-(3-methoxybenzyl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl]methyl]-3 H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (L-163,491), a novel nonpeptide angiotensin agonist, and angiotensin IV, the 3–8 amino acid fragment of angiotensin, were compared with responses to angiotensin II. Responses were investigated in the intact-chest cat under conditions of controlled blood flow and intralobar injections of angiotensin II, L-163,491, and angiotensin IV caused dose-related increases in lobar arterial pressure. When comparable in lobar arterial pressure of the three agents were examined, L-163,491 was approximately 3-fold less potent than angiotensin IV and approximately 100-fold less potent than angiotensin II when doses are expressed on a nmol basis. DuP 532, 2-propyl-4-pentafluoroethyl-1-([2′-(1 H-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-4]-methyl)imidazole-5-carboxylic acid, an angiotensin II AT 1 receptor antagonist, reduced pulmonary vasoconstrictor responses to angiotensin II, angiotensin IV and L-163,491, but did not significantly change pressor responses to serotonin, norepinephrine, or the thromboxane A 2 mimic, U46619. PD 123319, an angiotensin II subtype 2 receptor antagonist, did not significantly change pressor responses to L-163,491, angiotensin II, or angiotensin IV. Captopril, the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, decreased pulmonary vasoconstrictor responses to angiotensin I and enhanced vasodilator responses to bradykinin, but did not significantly change pressor responses to L-163,491. These data show that L-163,491 has significant angiotensin AT 1 receptor-mediated vasoconstrictor activity in the pulmonary vascular bed of the cat. These data also show that the nonpeptide agonist has 3-fold less activity compared to angiotensin IV and is approximately 100-fold less potent than angiotensin II in the feline pulmonary vascular bed.

Influence of PLC and MLCK inhibitors and the role of L-calcium channels in the cat pulmonary vascular bed.

The effects of U-73122, a phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor, on pressor responses to angiotensin II (ANG II), norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT), BAY K 8644, and the thromboxane A2 (TxA2) mimic, U-46619, were studied in the pulmonary vascular bed of the intact-chest cat. Under conditions of constant lobar blood flow, injections of ANG II, NE, 5-HT, U-46619, and the calcium channel opener, BAY K 8644, into the lobar arterial perfusion circuit caused dose-related increases in lobar arterial pressure, which were reproducible with respect to time. Infusion of U-73122, a PLC inhibitor, into the perfused lobar artery at 10-100 micrograms/kg for 10 min significantly reduced responses to ANG II, serotonin, and NE; however, U-73122 did not alter responses to BAY K 8644 or to U-46619. In a separate series of animals, the effects of the myosin light chain kinase inhibitor, KT-5926, were investigated, and after infusion of KT-5926 into the perfused lobar artery at 1-2 micrograms/kg for 10 min, responses to ANG II, NE, 5-HT, BAY K 8644, and U-46619 were reduced significantly. In a final series of experiments, the effects of the L-type calcium channel blocker, nicardipine, were investigated, and infusion of the L-type calcium channel blocker into the perfused lobar artery at 0.5-1 microgram/kg for 10 min reduced responses to ANG II, BAY K 8644, and NE. However, nicardipine did not alter pressor responses to 5-HT or the TxA2 mimic, U-46619.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Responses to a nonpeptide angiotensin receptor agonist, L163491, in the feline pulmonary vascular bed

The mechanism by which a novel potent non-peptide angiotensin subtype 1 receptor (AT 1) agonist, (5,7-dimethyl-2-ethyl-3-[[2′-[(butyloxycarbonyl) aminosulfonyl]-5′-(3-methoxybenzyl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl] methyl]-3H-imidazo [4,5-b] pyridine) (L-163,491), increased pulmonary vascular resistance was investigated in the intact-chest anesthetized cat under conditions of controlled blood flow. Intralobar injections of L-163,491, in doses of 10-300 μg i.a., caused dose-related increases in lobar arterial pressure that were partially antagonized by an AT 1 receptor antagonist, DuP 532, or by staurosporine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, in doses that antagonized presser responses to Ang II, but not to the thromboxane A 2 mimic, U46619. Responses to L 163491 were not altered by PD 123319, an AT 2 receptor antagonist. These data provide support for the hypothesis that vasoconstrictor responses to L 163491 are mediated by the activation of AT 1 receptors and the protein kinase C pathway in the pulmonary vascular bed of the intact-chest cat.

Influence of protein kinase C inhibitors on vasoconstrictor responses in the pulmonary vascular bed of cat and rat.

The effects of staurosporine and calphostin C, two different protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, on pressor responses were studied in the pulmonary vascular bed of the intact chest anesthetized cat and the isolated rat lung. Under conditions of constant lobar blood flow in the cat, injections of the angiotensin peptides, norepinephrine (NE), serotonin, and U-46619 into the lobar arterial perfusion circuit caused dose-related increases in lobar arterial pressure and responses were reproducible with respect to time. Infusion of staurosporine into the perfused lobar artery at 1-2 micrograms/kg for 10 min reduced the pressor response to the angiotensin peptides and to NE; however, staurosporine did not alter pressor responses to serotonin or to the thromboxane mimic U-46619. In a separate series of experiments, the effects of calphostin C were investigated and infusion of the PKC inhibitor into the perfused lobar artery at 1-5 micrograms/kg for 10 min also reduced pressor responses to the angiotensin peptides and to NE and did not alter pressor responses to serotonin or to U-46619. In the isolated rat lung, the inhibitory effects of staurosporine on pulmonary pressor responses were investigated and injections of angiotensin II, NE, and serotonin produced dose-related increases in pulmonary arterial perfusion pressure that were decreased after administration of 20 micrograms ia of the PKC inhibitor staurosporine. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Des-Arg9-bradykinin produces tone-dependent kinin B1 receptor-mediated responses in the pulmonary vascular bed.

Responses to des-Arg9-bradykinin, a selective kinin B1 receptor agonist, were characterized in the pulmonary vascular bed of the intact-chest cat. Injections of des-Arg9-bradykinin into the perfused lobar artery under low-resting tone conditions caused dose-related increases in lobar arterial pressure; whereas in the same experiment under elevated tone conditions, injections of the B1 agonist caused dose-related decreases in lobar arterial pressure. Vasoconstrictor responses to des-Arg9-bradykinin under low-tone conditions and vasodilator responses under elevated-tone conditions were antagonized by des-Arg9,[Leu8]-bradykinin, a kinin B1 receptor antagonist, whereas responses under low- and high-tone conditions were not altered by Hoe 140, a kinin B2 receptor antagonist. Vasoconstrictor responses to des-Arg9-bradykinin under low-tone conditions were attenuated by phentolamine, prazosin, and reserpine but not by sodium meclofenamate, suggesting that release of catecholamines and activation of alpha-adrenergic receptors are involved. Pulmonary vasodilator responses under elevated-tone conditions were inhibited by N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, suggesting that des-Arg9-bradykinin stimulates the release of nitric oxide, whereas meclofenamate and U-37883A, a nonsulfonylurea ATP-sensitive K+ channel antagonist, did not alter vasodilator responses to the B1 receptor agonist. These results suggest that vasoconstrictor responses to des-Arg9-bradykinin under low-tone conditions are mediated by the activation of kinin B1 receptors, the release of catecholamines within the lung, and the activation of alpha-adrenergic receptors, whereas vasodilator responses under elevated tone conditions are mediated by activation of B1 receptors and the release of nitric oxide from the endothelium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analysis of responses to angiotensin IV in the pulmonary vascular bed of the cat

Responses to angiotensin IV were investigated and compared with responses to angiotensin II in the pulmonary vascular bed of the intact-chest cat under constant flow conditions. Under low resting tone conditions, intralobar injections of angiotensin IV caused dose-related increases in lobar arterial pressure. Angiotensin II also increased lobar arterial pressure and was 100 fold more potent than angiotensin IV. Dose-response curves for both peptides were parallel, and the time-to-peak increase in lobar arterial pressure in response to angiotensin IV and angiotensin II was similar whereas the duration of the response to angiotensin IV was significantly shorter. Following administration of the angiotensin receptor subtype 1 (AT 1) antagonist, DuP 532 (2- n-butyl-4-chloro-5-hydroxymethyl-1-[(2′-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-methyl]imidazole), responses to angiotensin IV and angiotensin II were reduced in a similar manner, whereas pulmonary pressor responses to serotonin were not altered. In contrast to the inhibitory effects of the angiotensin AT 1 receptor antagonist, administration of PD 123,319 ((S)-1-[[4-(dimethyl-amino) -3-methyl-phenyl]methyl-5-(diphenylacetyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-imidazol[4,5- c]pyridine-6-carboxylic acid), an angiotensin AT 2 receptor antagonist, did not change responses to angiotensin II and angiotensin IV. The results of the present study demonstrate that angiotensin IV has significant vasoconstrictor activity in the pulmonary vascular bed, and suggest that pressor responses to angiotensin IV are mediated by the activation of angiotensin AT 1 receptors. These data indicate that angiotensin IV is 100-fold less potent than angiotensin II and suggest that the hexapeptide may have a lower apparent affinity for the angiotensin AT 1 receptor than does angiotensin II in the pulmonary vascular bed of the cat.

Analysis of responses to bradykinin in the pulmonary vascular bed of the cat.

Responses to bradykinin (BK) were investigated in the pulmonary vascular bed of the cat under conditions of controlled pulmonary blood flow and constant left atrial pressure when lobar arterial pressure was elevated to a high steady level. Under elevated-tone conditions, BK caused dose-related decreases in lobar arterial pressure. After administration of Hoe-140, a BK B2-receptor antagonist, vasodilator responses to BK were reduced in a selective manner. Vasodilator responses to BK were unchanged by atropine, glibenclamide, meclofenamate, or bronchial occlusion, suggesting that responses are not dependent on the activation of muscarinic receptors or K+ATP channels, the release of vasodilator prostaglandins, or changes in bronchomotor tone. The nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitors N omega-nitro-L-arginine benzyl ester and N omega-nitro-L-arginine reduced vasodilator responses to BK in a selective manner, indicating that responses to BK are mediated in part by the release of NO. Methylene blue, an inhibitor of the activation of soluble guanylate cyclase, increased lobar arterial pressure and decreased responses to BK. The increases in lobar arterial pressure in response to methylene blue were partially reversed by the administration of superoxide dismutase, indicating that generation of O2- may inactivate basally released NO. The duration of the response to BK was enhanced by the guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) phosphodiesterase inhibitor Zaprinast, suggesting that responses to BK involve increases in cGMP levels. Responses to BK were enhanced by captopril, indicating that BK is rapidly inactivated by kininase II in the lung.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analysis of responses to serotonin in the pulmonary vascular bed of the cat.

Pulmonary vascular responses to serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) were investigated in the intact-chest cat under constant-flow conditions. Injections of 5-HT into the perfused lobar artery in doses of 1-30 micrograms caused dose-related increases in lobar arterial pressure and, at doses of 3-30 micrograms, decreases in systemic arterial pressure. Left atrial pressure was not changed, and responses to 5-HT were not altered by a thromboxane receptor blocking agent. Responses to 5-HT were blocked by ketanserin in doses that did not alter responses to agonists that increase pulmonary vascular resistance by various mechanisms. The ketanserin-induced blockade was not surmountable and at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg iv persisted for > 4 h. Prazosin and yohimbine, selective alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonists, were without effect on the pressor response to 5-HT, and ketanserin did not reduce responses to norepinephrine or the alpha 1-agonists, phenylephrine and methoxamine. 5-HT and the thromboxane mimic, U-46619, produced large increases in pulmonary vascular resistance; however, U-46619 was 300 times more potent than 5-HT. 5-HT increased lobar arterial pressure when the lung was perfused with dextran, and increases in lobar arterial pressure in response to 5-HT were not diminished when lobar ventilation was interrupted but were enhanced by N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester and to a small extent by meclofenamate. The present data suggest that increases in pulmonary vascular resistance in the cat in response to 5-HT are due to activation of an S2 receptor in undefined "resistance vessel elements." These data suggest that pulmonary vasoconstrictor responses to 5-HT may be modulated to a small extent by release of a vasodilator prostaglandin and endothelium-derived nitric oxide but are not dependent on activation of thromboxane receptors, changes in bronchomotor tone, and interaction with alpha 1-receptors or with formed elements in blood.

Inhibitory effects of DuP 753 and EXP3174 on responses to angiotensin II in pulmonary vascular bed of the cat.

The effects of the non-peptide antagonist DuP 753 and its metabolite EXP3174 on responses to angiotensin II were investigated in the pulmonary vascular bed of the intact-chest cat. Under conditions of controlled blood flow and constant left atrial pressure, injections of angiotensin II into the perfused lobar artery caused dose-related increases in lobar arterial pressure. Responses to angiotensin II were reproducible and were not changed by meclofenamate or prazosin, indicating that prostaglandin or norepinephrine release does not mediate or modulate pulmonary vascular responses to the peptide. DuP 753 (1-5 mg/kg iv) decreased responses to angiotensin II in a competitive manner, and the duration of the blockade was related to dose of the antagonist. DuP 753 had no significant effect on responses to U-46619, norepinephrine, serotonin, endothelin-1, vasopressin, or BAY K 8644. EXP3174 also decreased responses to angiotensin II without altering responses to agents that act by a variety of mechanisms. The inhibitory effect of EXP3174 (1 mg/kg iv) was not overcome by angiotensin II in the range of doses studied, and the shift to the right of the dose-response curve was nonparallel, suggesting that the blockade was noncompetitive. The blockade was long in duration, and, when the dose of EXP3174 was decreased to 0.1 mg/kg iv, the blockade was surmounted and the shift to the right of the dose-response relationship was parallel. DuP 753 and EXP3174 had little effect on mean baseline pressures in the cat.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Methylene blue inhibits neurogenic cholinergic vasodilator responses in the pulmonary vascular bed of the cat.

The effects of methylene blue, an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase, on pulmonary vasodilator responses to efferent vagal stimulation were investigated in the intact-chest cat under conditions of controlled blood flow and constant left atrial pressure. In animals pretreated with reserpine or phenoxybenzamine, under elevated tone conditions, efferent vagal stimulation at frequencies of 2-16 Hz caused stimulus-frequency-dependent decreases in lobar arterial pressure and pulmonary lobar vascular resistance. The vasodilator response to vagal stimulation was reproducible, blocked by atropine, and reduced by methylene blue. Intralobar infusion of methylene blue increased lobar arterial pressure without significantly altering systemic arterial or left atrial pressure. Methylene blue had no significant effect on vasodilator responses to isoproterenol, albuterol, atriopeptin III, lemakalim, adenosine, ATP, and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide-27 but significantly decreased vasodilator responses to acetylcholine, nitric oxide (NO), sodium nitroprusside, and the S-nitrosothiol, S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine. The effects of methylene blue on responses to vagal stimulation were reversible and were similar with the addition of a NO synthase inhibitor. The present data suggest that vasodilator responses to cholinergic nerve stimulation involve an increase in the production of guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate in the pulmonary vascular bed. These results provide additional evidence to support the hypothesis that neurogenically released acetylcholine induces endothelium-dependent, muscarinic, guanylate cyclase-mediated vasodilation.

Analysis of pulmonary and systemic vascular responses to platelet-activating factor in the cat.

Pulmonary and systemic vascular responses to platelet-activating factor (PAF) were investigated in the anesthetized cat. Intravenous injections of PAF decreased arterial pressure, increased pulmonary arterial pressure, and caused small but significant decreases in right and left atrial pressures. A transient increase in cardiac output was followed by a secondary decrease, and heart rate was increased. Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) was increased, systemic vascular resistance (SVR) was reduced, and changes in PVR and SVR in response to PAF were blocked by the novel PAF receptor antagonist, BN 50730. Under constant-flow conditions PAF dilated the hindlimb vascular bed in a dose-related manner, whereas in the pulmonary lobar vascular bed, PAF caused dose-related increases in perfusion pressure. Hindlimb and lobar vascular responses to PAF were blocked by BN 50730 in a selective manner, whereas cyclooxygenase inhibitors had no effect on responses to the phospholipid mediator. Hindlimb vasodilator responses to PAF were reduced by N omega-nitro-L-arginine in a dose that blocked the response to acetylcholine but did not decrease responses to prostaglandin E1 or nitroprusside. Increases in lobar arterial pressure in response to PAF were not altered by treatment with a thromboxane receptor antagonist, when the lung was perfused with a low-molecular-weight dextran solution, or when ventilation to the lobe was interrupted. These data suggest that the release of cyclooxygenase products, activation of thromboxane A2 receptors, cellular aggregation, release of leukocyte or platelet mediators, or changes in bronchomotor tone do not contribute to the pulmonary vasoconstrictor response to PAF and that the hindlimb vasodilator response to the phospholipid mediator is dependent in part on the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor.

Blockade of thromboxane/endoperoxide receptor-mediated responses in the pulmonary vascular bed of the cat by sulotroban

The effects of sulotroban (BM13.177; SK&F 95587), a thromboxane (TX) A 2/endoperoxide (PGH 2) receptor blocking agent on responses to the TXA 2/PGH 2 mimics, U46619 and U44069, were investigated in the pulmonary vascular bed of the intact-chest cat under constant flow conditions. Injections of U46619 and U44069 directly into the perfused lobar artery caused dose-related increases in lobar arterial pressure without altering left atrial pressure. Following administration of sulotroban in a dose of 5 mg/kg i.v., dose-response curves for U46619 and U44069 were shifted to the right in a parallel manner. The duration of the blocking effect of sulotroban was investigated, and responses to U46619 returned to approximately 50% of control in 120 min and were not significantly different from control 240 min after administration of the receptor antagonist. Sulotroban was without significant effect on responses to prostaglandin (PG) D 2 or F 2α or serotonin, histamine, norepinephrine, angiotensin II or BAY K8644, an agent which enhances calcium entry. Sulotroban was without effect on responses to endothelin (ET)-1, sarafotoxin (S) 6a or S6c and platelet-activating factor (PAF). Sulotroban did not alter baseline vascular pressures in the cat and responses to the PG and TXA 2/PGH 2 precursor, arachidonic acid, were reduced. The present data show that sulotroban selectively blocks TXA 2/PGH 2 receptor-mediated responses in a competitive and reversible manner in the pulmonary vascular bed. These data suggest that responses to ET-1, S6a, S6c and PAF are not dependent on the activation of TXA 2/PGH 2 receptors and are consistent with the hypothesis that discrete TXA 2/PGH 2 receptors unrelated to receptors activated by PGF 2α or PGD 2 are present in the pulmonary vascular bed of the cat.

Mechanisms of signal transduction for adenosine and ATP in pulmonary vascular bed.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the contribution of pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive guanine nucleotide (G) proteins in the pulmonary vascular response to adenosine and ATP in the intact cat under conditions of controlled pulmonary blood flow and left atrial pressure. Adenosine, ATP, and beta-tau-ATP increased lobar arterial pressure in a dose-dependent manner. The pulmonary vasoconstrictor response to adenosine was abolished by BW 1433U, a specific purinergic receptor (P1) inhibitor, PTX pretreatment, indomethacin, and ONO 3708, a thromboxane A2 (TxA2) receptor antagonist. These data suggest that the pulmonary vasoconstrictor response to adenosine depends on activation of P1 purinergic receptors coupled to PTX-sensitive G proteins and subsequent metabolism of liberated arachidonic acid to form TxA2. Because each blocking agent studied produced similar reductions in the pulmonary vasoconstrictor response to ATP without altering the pulmonary vasoconstrictor response to beta-tau-ATP, the present data suggest that ATP constricts the pulmonary vascular bed, in part, by hydrolysis to adenosine. Moreover, the present study suggests that both A1 purinoceptors that are linked to PTX-sensitive G proteins as well as P2x purinoceptors receptors that are independent of PTX-insensitive G proteins mediate the pulmonary vasoconstrictor response to ATP in vivo.