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Sverre Medbø, J. Frederik Frøen, Ola Didrik Saugstad

Effects of selective inhibition of the Endothelin A and B receptors on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in newborn piglets

The effects on pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and plasma Endothelin-1 (ET-1) were studied in piglets during severe hypoxemia and reoxygenation for 2 h with selective inhibition of the endothelin receptors. Two groups were subjected to selective ET_A (ET_A group) or ET_B (ET_B group) receptor inhibition. During hypoxemia there was an initial increase in PAP to 36.3 and 34.3 mm Hg in the ET_A and ET_B groups respectively, with a decrease to the end of hypoxemia. During reoxygenation PAP reached a maximum at 5 min with a mean of 29.6 and 38.4 mm Hg in the ET_A and ET_B groups respectively, and then PAP gradually declined towards baseline. During the 2 h reoxygenation period PAP was higher in the ET_B group than in the ET_A group (p = 0.02). Plasma ET-1 increased from 1.50 and 1.17 ng/L at baseline to 2.07 and 3.18 ng/L at the end of hypoxemia in the ET_A and ET_B groups respectively. Conclusion: ET_B receptor inhibition leads to increased pulmonary vasoconstriction during reoxygenation following hypoxemia compared to ET_A receptor inhibition. Not only the ET_B receptor, but also the ET_A receptor plays a role in maintaining plasma ET-1 levels.

Journal of Perinatal Medicine, Walter de Gruyter

Print ISSN: 1619-3997
Volume: 29, 08/2001
Pages: 344 - 350

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