Biomaterial Database

Pregnancy- and gender-related changes in pulmonary vascular reactivity. 1987

M Cutaia, and P Friedrich, and R Grimson, and R J Porcelli

Veterans Administration Medical Center, Northport, NY 11768.

Pregnancy is a state of altered pulmonary vascular reactivity, but the conclusions about changes in reactivity have varied with the agents or species chosen for study. The present study was designed as a comprehensive analysis of pregnancy-induced and gender-related differences in pulmonary vascular reactivity in one species. Using an isolated perfused feline lung preparation, the pulmonary vascular responses to angiotensin II, serotonin, histamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and acute hypoxia (FIO2, 8%) were compared between males, females, and pregnant females. Vascular reactivity (maximum response) and drug sensitivity (ED50) were compared using cumulative dose-response data for each pharmacological agent. The results demonstrate that (1) reactivity to angiotensin II, serotonin, epinephrine, and acute hypoxia is decreased during pregnancy, while the response to norepinephrine remain unchanged, (2) drug sensitivity is unchanged with serotonin and the catecholamines, increased with histamine, and decreased with angiotensin II, and (3) the responses to acute hypoxia and histamine have significant gender-related differences in reactivity independent of the changes observed during pregnancy.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009638	Norepinephrine	Precursor of epinephrine that is secreted by the ADRENAL MEDULLA and is a widespread central and autonomic neurotransmitter. Norepinephrine is the principal transmitter of most postganglionic sympathetic fibers, and of the diffuse projection system in the brain that arises from the LOCUS CERULEUS. It is also found in plants and is used pharmacologically as a sympathomimetic.	Levarterenol,Levonorepinephrine,Noradrenaline,Arterenol,Levonor,Levophed,Levophed Bitartrate,Noradrenaline Bitartrate,Noradrénaline tartrate renaudin,Norepinephrin d-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine Bitartrate,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride, (+,-)-Isomer,Norepinephrine d-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), (+,-)-Isomer,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), Monohydrate,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), Monohydrate, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:2),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine, (+,-)-Isomer
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011270	Pregnancy, Animal	The process of bearing developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero in non-human mammals, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Animal Pregnancies,Animal Pregnancy,Pregnancies, Animal
D011652	Pulmonary Circulation	The circulation of the BLOOD through the LUNGS.	Pulmonary Blood Flow,Respiratory Circulation,Circulation, Pulmonary,Circulation, Respiratory,Blood Flow, Pulmonary,Flow, Pulmonary Blood,Pulmonary Blood Flows
D011897	Random Allocation	A process involving chance used in therapeutic trials or other research endeavor for allocating experimental subjects, human or animal, between treatment and control groups, or among treatment groups. It may also apply to experiments on inanimate objects.	Randomization,Allocation, Random
D002415	Cats	The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801)	Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D004837	Epinephrine	The active sympathomimetic hormone from the ADRENAL MEDULLA. It stimulates both the alpha- and beta- adrenergic systems, causes systemic VASOCONSTRICTION and gastrointestinal relaxation, stimulates the HEART, and dilates BRONCHI and cerebral vessels. It is used in ASTHMA and CARDIAC FAILURE and to delay absorption of local ANESTHETICS.	Adrenaline,4-(1-Hydroxy-2-(methylamino)ethyl)-1,2-benzenediol,Adrenaline Acid Tartrate,Adrenaline Bitartrate,Adrenaline Hydrochloride,Epifrin,Epinephrine Acetate,Epinephrine Bitartrate,Epinephrine Hydrochloride,Epinephrine Hydrogen Tartrate,Epitrate,Lyophrin,Medihaler-Epi,Acetate, Epinephrine
D005260	Female		Females
D006632	Histamine	An amine derived by enzymatic decarboxylation of HISTIDINE. It is a powerful stimulant of gastric secretion, a constrictor of bronchial smooth muscle, a vasodilator, and also a centrally acting neurotransmitter.	Ceplene,Histamine Dihydrochloride,Histamine Hydrochloride,Peremin