Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 49, Issue 1 66-72, Copyright © 1980 by American Physiological Society
Adrenal component to pulmonary hypertension caused by nicotine administration in the dog
M. B. Maron, D. A. Rickaby and C. A. Dawson
In this study, we investigated the possibility that the adrenal gland
contributes to nicotine-induced pulmonary hypertension using a canine left
lower lung lobe (LLL) preparation that was pump-perfused with mixed venous
blood at constant flow and outflow pressure. Main pulmonary artery, left
atrial, and LLL arterial pressures were monitored to assess the responses
of the animal's intact right lung and isolated LLL. With the adrenal venous
return intact, injection of 10-26 micrograms/kg nicotine into the left
ventricle or ascending aorta resulted in a 42% increase in LLL arterial
pressure and a 70% increase in the pulmonary arterial-left atrial pressure
gradient (Ppa-Pla). When the adrenal venous return was interrupted, the
increases in LLL arterial pressure and Ppa-Pla were reduced to 6 and 10%,
respectively. The LLL response could be eliminated by alpha-adrenergic
receptor blockade, suggesting that adrenal catecholamines may contribute to
the pulmonary hypertension induced by nicotine infusion.
