Abstract
To begin to understand the role of EDRF in the control of pulmonary vascular tone in the neonate we studied isolated lungs from pigs (age 14.5±0.3 days, weight 3.2±0.3 kg) perfused at 100ml·min−1 kg with autologous blood under zone 3 conditions. Pulmonary artery (Pa), left atrial (Pv) and airway pressures were continuously monitored. To determine the potential for stimulated release of EDRF we infused a 0.1 mg bolus of acetylcholine (ACH), and to block EDRF production we added NG-nitro-L-arginine methylester (NAME) to the blood to achieve a concentration of 10−3M.
ACH was given prior to and after NAME, prior to NAME ACH was a vasodilator and after NAME ACH was a vasoconstrictor. The 50% increase in Pa with the addition of NAME suggests that the basal production of EDRF from L-arginine has a modulating role in the control of pulmonary vascular tone in the isolated lungs from neonatal pigs. The change in response to ACH from a vasodilator to a vasoconstrictor following NAME suggests that the vasodilator action of ACH was mediated by EDRF production. Interference with EDRF synthesis may lead to the development of neonatal pulmonary hypertensive diseases.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nelin, L., Thomas, C. & Dawson, C. THE ROLE OF EDRF IN THE MAINTENANCE OF BASAL PULMONARY VASOMOTOR TONE IN THE NEONATAL PIGLET. Pediatr Res 32, 636 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199211000-00186
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199211000-00186