Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 66, Issue 1 151-160, Copyright © 1989 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Hemodynamic effects of arginine vasopressin in rats adapted to chronic hypoxia

H. K. Jin, R. H. Yang, Y. F. Chen, R. M. Thornton, R. M. Jackson and S. Oparil
Department of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35294.

Acute and chronic pulmonary and systemic hemodynamic responses to arginine vasopressin (AVP) were examined in 4-wk hypoxia-adapted and air control rats. AVP, administered intravenously as bolus injections or sustained infusions, produced major dose-dependent V1-receptor-mediated reductions in mean pulmonary arterial pressure in hypoxia-adapted rats. These effects were comparable in pentobarbital-anesthetized, thoracotomized animals and in conscious, intact rats. Chronic infusions of AVP induced a sustained reduction in mean pulmonary arterial pressure and partially prevented the development of pulmonary hypertension without changing systemic arterial pressure. AVP induced significant decreases in cardiac output in both groups; the cardiac output response was not significantly different in hypoxia-adapted and air control animals. AVP induced almost no change in MPAP in air control rats. Furthermore the systemic pressor effects of AVP were significantly blunted in hypoxia-adapted rats compared with air controls. We conclude that the pulmonary depressor and blunted systemic pressor effects of AVP observed in hypoxia-adapted rats may be related to release of a vasodilator, such as endothelium-derived relaxing factor, vasodilator prostaglandins, or atrial natriuretic peptides. Further study is needed to elucidate these mechanisms and assess the usefulness of AVP and/or its analogues in the treatment and prevention of hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension.

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