ABSTRACT
AIM:To investigate the effect of puerarin on pulmonary vessel collagen metabolism in pulmonary hypertension rats induced by chronic hypoxia and hypercapnia. METHODS: Collagen Ⅰ,Ⅲ and their mRNA were observed in pulmonary arterioles by the technique of immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. RESULTS: ① Light microscopy showed media thickness of pulmonary arterioles was much higher in HH(hypoxic-hypercapnia) group than that of NC(normal control) group, and, vessel cavity turned more straiter in HH group than that of NC group.However, the damage of pulmonary arterioles in HP(hypoxic-pueratin) group was much slighter than that of HH group. ② The levels of plasma ET-1 and lung homogenates Hyr were much higher in HH group than those of NC group( P 0.05). CONCLUSION: Puerarin inhibited the deposition of collagen and improved pulmonary vessel remodeling.