Use of alprostadil for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension in rats：variations in histopathology and vessel structure / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:Pulmonary hypertension stil lacks effective treatment measures. The effects of alprostadil in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension remain controversial. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of alprostadil in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension induced by chronic hypoxia. METHODS:24 experimental rats were randomly and evenly divided into control group, model group, and treatment group. The rats of model and treatment groups were fed in the hypoxic box to establish the animal model of pulmonary hypertension, and the rats of control group were fed in the normal air. After pulmonary hypertension induction, rats from the treatment group were intraperitonealy administered alprostadil injection (5 μg/kg per day) for 4 consecutive weeks. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the model group, the mean pulmonary artery pressure, right ventricular systolic pressure, pulmonary vascular thickness, size of blood vessels and alveolar wal thickness of rats in the treatment group were obviously decreased. The results suggest that alprostadil can decrease pulmonary artery pressure and prevent lung injury.