Endothelin-1 plasma concentration increases in the early phase of pulmonary hypertension development during respiratory distress syndrome: a study in newborn lambs.

OBJECTIVE: Elevated plasma concentrations of endothelin-1 (ET-1) have been reported with pulmonary hypertension during respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). However, the exact role of ET-1 in the development of pulmonary hypertension during RDS is unclear. The relative time-course of changes in ET-1 concentrations and pulmonary artery pressure (P(ap)) during RDS may give insight in the role of ET-1. METHODS: ET-1 and P(ap) changes were studied in an experimental model of RDS, induced by lung lavages in seven newborn lambs. Five other lambs served as controls. RESULTS: Lung lavages induced a twofold increase of mean P(ap) (from 15 to 34 mm Hg) that remained present throughout the 4-h study period. Along with the increased P(ap), ET-1 plasma concentration showed a significant increase 15 min after induction of RDS at all three sample locations (pulmonary artery 198%, aorta 181% and right atrium 195% compared to baseline). This increased concentration remained high at 1 and 4 h of RDS. In control animals, no significant changes in ET-1 concentrations were observed. Plotting ET-1 concentration values against mean P(ap), in RDS and control animals at all time points, a correlation was found between the severity of the pulmonary hypertension and ET-1 concentration. CONCLUSION: This experimental model of RDS shows that ET-1 concentration increases concomitant with the development of pulmonary hypertension, from an early time point onward. More severe pulmonary hypertension is associated with higher ET-1 concentrations, but whether ET-1 is a marker or a mediator of pulmonary hypertension remains as yet unsettled.

Enhanced systolic function of the right ventricle during respiratory distress syndrome in newborn lambs.

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) causes pulmonary hypertension. It is often suggested that this increased afterload for the right ventricle (RV) might lead to cardiac dysfunction. To examine this, we studied biventricular function in an experimental model. RDS was induced by lung lavages in seven newborn lambs. Five additional lambs served as controls. Cardiac function was quantified by indexes derived from end-systolic pressure-volume relations obtained by pressure-conductance catheters. After lung lavages, a twofold increase of mean pulmonary arterial pressure (from 15 to 34 mmHg) was obtained and lasted for the full 4-h study period. Stroke volume was maintained (5.2 +/- 0.6 ml at baseline and 6.1 +/- 1.4 ml at 4 h of RDS), while RV end-diastolic volume showed only a slight increase (from 6.5 +/- 2.3 ml at baseline to 7.7 +/- 1.3 ml at 4 h RDS). RV systolic function improved significantly, as indicated by a leftward shift and increased slope of the end-systolic pressure-volume relation. Left ventricular systolic function showed no changes. In control animals, pulmonary arterial pressure did not increase and right and left ventricular systolic function remained unaffected. In the face of increased RV afterload, the newborn heart is able to maintain cardiac output, primarily by improving systolic RV function through homeometric autoregulation.

Right ventricular function in respiratory distress syndrome and subsequent partial liquid ventilation. Homeometric autoregulation in the right ventricle of the newborn animal.

Infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS) and subsequent partial liquid ventilation (PLV) cause increased pulmonary vascular resistance, thus raising afterload. In nine newborn lambs the effects of IRDS and subsequent PLV on right (RV) and left ventricular (LV) contractility and systolic pump function were assessed using indices derived from RV and LV pressure-volume relations, obtained by micromanometric and conductance catheters during transient inferior vena cava occlusion. Pulmonary function deteriorated during IRDS with a significant decrease in the ratio of arterial oxygen pressure to fraction of inspired oxygen (Pa(O(2))/FI(O(2))) whereas pulmonary artery pressure (Ppa) showed a significant increase and pulmonary vascular resistance showed a substantial though not significant increase. Cardiac output (Q), stroke volume (SV), and end-diastolic volume (EDV) did not change. RV contractility showed a significant increase during IRDS: the slope of the end-systolic pressure-volume relation (RV-E (ES)) increased whereas its volume intercept at 5 kPa (RV-V(5)) decreased. The preload-corrected time derivative of ventricular pressure (RV-dP/dt(max)), however, did not change significantly. LV pump function and contractility were unchanged. During PLV pulmonary function showed a recovery but Ppa and pulmonary vascular resistance remained high; indices for RV contractility showed a sustained significant increase compared with baseline conditions whereas indices for LV pump function and contractility remained unchanged. These results show that the right ventricle of the newborn heart, in the face of increased pulmonary vascular resistance, is able to maintain cardiac output through homeometric autoregulation.

Electrocortical brain activity during hypoxia and hypotension in anesthetized newborn lambs.

Blood gas and blood pressure disturbances do influence cerebral blood flow in newborns. To what extent cerebral blood flow changes affect electrocortical brain activity remains uncertain. We studied the effect of severe hypoxia and hemorrhagic hypotension on carotid artery blood flow and electrocortical brain activity in newborn anesthetized lambs. During hypoxia carotid artery blood flow increased significantly, whereas electrocortical brain activity remained unchanged. The hemorrhagic hypotension study showed that the lower limit of the autoregulatory ability of the cerebral vascular bed was 60 mmHg. Electrocortical brain activity however remained stable until mean aortic pressure had dropped below 30 mmHg, carotid artery blood flow below 10.6 ml/kg/min, and cerebral oxygen delivery below 1.4 ml/kg/min.

Nitric oxide inhibition after hypoxia-ischemia elevates pulmonary arterial pressure and increases oxygen need.

Inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production may reduce post-hypoxic-ischemic (HI) neonatal brain damage, but may also induce pulmonary hypertension by inhibiting endogenous NO production in the pulmonary vascular bed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nitric oxide inhibition on pulmonary artery pressure and oxygen need after hypoxic ischemia. Severe HI was produced in 18 newborn lambs. After completion of HI the lambs were divided into three groups of 6 animals receiving either placebo (Cont), low dose N omega-nitro-L-arginine (10 mg/kg i.v., NLA-10) or high dose (40 mg/kg i.v., NLA-40) to block NO production. Pulmonary artery pressure (Pap), aortic pressure, blood gases, inspiratory oxygen concentration and ventilator settings were recorded before and 15, 60, 120 and 180 min after HI. Mean Pap rose initially significantly as compared to baseline in all groups at 15 min post-HI, decreased to normal in Cont but not in treated animals; 180 min post-HI mean Pap was significantly higher in both treated groups as compared to control (NLA-10: 32 mm Hg, NLA-40: 34 mm Hg, Cont: 25 mm Hg, p < 0.05 for NLA-10 and NLA-40 vs. Cont). Moreover, in both NLA-treated groups the oxygenation index was significantly elevated 120 and 180 min post-HI as compared to those of the Cont group. NO synthase inhibition after HI causes a prolonged increase in pulmonary artery pressure leading to a higher oxygen need.

Inhalation of nitric oxide: effect on cerebral hemodynamics and activity, and antioxidant status in the newborn lamb.

Ventilation with nitric oxide (NO) is increasingly being used to treat pulmonary hypertension in the newborn. In the brain, NO has vasoactive properties and is involved in neurotransmission. However, the effect of inhaled NO on the cerebral blood flow (CBF) and on the cerebral activity is not known. Furthermore, there is little information on the influence of this free radical gas on the redox status in pulmonary vessels. We therefore investigated the effect of inhaled NO (2-60 ppm) on CBF, cerebral activity and redox status in blood effluent from the pulmonary circulation in 6 ventilated newborn lambs before and during group B streptococci (GBS)-induced pulmonary hypertension. Blood pressure in the pulmonary artery (P(ap)) and aorta (Pao), carotid artery blood flow (Qcar) to assess changes in CBF, and electrocortical activity were measured. Blood gases, indices of free radical status and methemoglobin were determined in blood samples obtained from the left ventricle. Inhalation of NO, before and during GBS-induced pulmonary hypertension, decreased P(ap) and PCO2 and increased PO2. Multiple linear regression revealed that Qcar was positively related to PCO2, but not to inhaled NO or PO2 before or during GBS conditions. Electrocortical activity and indices of antioxidative capacity and lipid peroxidation did not change significantly. Methemoglobin was not detected. In conclusion, inhalation of NO (up to 60 ppm) lowered P(ap) without directly affecting CBF, electrocortical activity, and redox status in the pulmonary vessels. CBF, however, can indirectly be influenced by NO-mediated changes in PCO2.

A high-frequency albinism variant on the gulf coast of Papua.

An apparently recessively inherited albinism variant characterized by skin tanning, light but not white hair, uniformly pigmented irides varying in colour from hazel to dark brown, slight nystagmus, divergent strabismus, mild hyperkeratosis and only slight or absent photophobia, occurs among the Elema-speaking peoples of the Gulf Province of Papua New Guinea at frequencies indicating that the gene which produces it is polymorphic. It is readily distinguishable from both classical types of albinism, from the "redskin" variant also found in Papua New Guinea, and from the "yellow mutant" albinism of North America. The differences from the African types of "albinoidism" or "partial albinism" are less marked, and it may represent a similar mutation with simply a different distribution of the melanosomes in the two peoples, Allelism, or lack of it, with classical tyrosinase-positive albinism has not been determined.