Species differences in the responses of pulmonary vascular preparations to 5-hydroxytryptamine

5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) has been implicated in pulmonary hypertension, hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, and the pulmonary side-effects of some drugs. 5-HT contracts bovine, ovine, canine, caprine, feline, rabbit, guinea-pig and rat isolated pulmonary arteries mainly by activation of 5-HT2A receptors but relaxes porcine pulmonary artery through activation of endothelial 5-HT2B receptors. Pharmacological responses of the pulmonary veins to 5-HT have been less studied and comprise both contraction (bovine, canine, feline, equine, rabbit) and relaxation (ovine, caprine). Functional and radioligand binding studies in human isolated intrapulmonary arteries and veins have demonstrated a mixed population of 5-HT1B/1D and 5-HT2A receptors mediating vasoconstriction but no evidence of involvement of 5-HT1A, 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 receptors. Remarkable differences exist in the in vitro pulmonary vasoreactivity to 5-HT and related drugs in humans compared with other mammals. Therefore, the use of human tissues is to be preferred to study pathophysiological responses of pulmonary circulation with clinical relevance.