Abstract
In vivo haemodynamic responses to human urotensin-II were determined in two models of pulmonary hypertension: rabbits with left ventricular dysfunction following coronary artery ligation and the hypoxic rat. Effects were also examined in the presence of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N¿-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME). Human urotensin-II increased pulmonary arterial pressure to a greater extent in ligated rabbits than their controls and l-NAME increased pulmonary pressure without significantly affecting these responses to human urotensin-II. Human urotensin-II raised right ventricular pressure slightly in control rats but not in hypoxic rats. Human urotensin-II did not constrict control rat isolated small pulmonary arteries and only induced a small constriction of these vessels in hypoxic rats. In conclusion, exogenous human urotensin-II exerts pulmonary pressor responses in vivo in rabbits and also induced small pulmonary pressor responses in control rats. Pulmonary pressor responses to urotensin-II were increased by pulmonary hypertension in rabbits but not in rats.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 135-42 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | European Journal of Pharmacology |
Volume | 537 |
Issue number | 1-3 |
Early online date | 17 Mar 2006 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - May 2006 |
Keywords
- pulmonary circulation
- blood pressure
- Urotensin II
- hypoxia
- hypertension