THE CHANGE IN ENDOTHELIN-1 AND NITRIC OXIDE IN HYPOXIC PULMONARY HYPERTENSION / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

In order to investigate the change in and relationship between endothelin 1(ET 1) and nitric oxide(NO) in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension(HPH),the content of ET 1 and NO in plasma and lung tissue homogenate, the expression and localization of ET 1, constitutive and inducible nitric oxide synthase(cNOS,iNOS) using immunohistochemistry in HPH of rats were assayed. The effect of NOS inhibitor nitro L arginine methyl ester(L NAME) on the content of ET 1 was also studied. The results showed that the content of ET 1 and NO in plasma of the HPH rats were significantly higher than that of controls; positive expression of ET 1 and iNOS were enhanced in the endothelium of vessels, the epithelium of bronchi and the smooth muscle of vessels and bronchi,but the expression of cNOS weakened The content of ET 1 in plasma and lung tissue homogenate were increased after administration of L NAME. The results indicate that in the normal animals, NO may suppress the secretion of ET 1. The increased ET 1 may play an important role in the development of HPH, and the induced iNOS may be the result of functional adaptation to chronic hypoxia.