Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 50, Issue 6 1161-1167, Copyright © 1981 by American Physiological Society
Influence of the lung on arterial levels of endogenous prostaglandins E and F
B. R. Pitt, C. N. Gillis and G. L. Hammond
Arterial and mixed venous levels of immunoreactive prostaglandins E (IRPGE)
and F (IRPGF) were measured before, during, and after total cardiopulmonary
bypass (CPB) or left-heart bypass (LHBP) in 22 anesthetized dogs. Mean
arterial levels of IRPGE and IRPGF increased with time on bypass from
prebypass levels of less than 0.01 ng/ml to 6.12 +/- 1.71 and 4.85 +/- 1.31
ng/ml, respectively, after 3-4 h of CPB. There was no significant
difference between right atrial and femoral arterial prostaglandin levels
during CPB. Upon restoration of normal pulmonary blood flow, arterial
levels decreased toward control, and significant pulmonary artery-left
ventricular gradients were observed. During LHBP, with similar
extracorporeal pathophysiological conditions as CPB, but with the lungs
normally perfused, arterial levels of IRPGE and IRPGF were not
significantly different from prebypass levels. These data suggest that
elevations in endogenous arterial IRPGE and IRPGF are due to the absence of
the prostaglandin clearance function of the lung when blood is temporarily
diverted from the pulmonary circulation during CPB. Therefore, the
prostaglandin clearance function of the lung appears to be important in
regulating arterial levels of endogenous prostaglandins E and F.
