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Changes in lung eicosanoid content during normal and abnormal transition in perinatal lambs.
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80218.
The American Journal of Physiology
|February 1, 1992
Summary
Eicosanoids play a role in perinatal pulmonary circulation. Lung prostacyclin increased after delivery, but leukotrienes did not change significantly in hypertensive lambs.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal physiology
- Pulmonary circulation
- Eicosanoid metabolism
Background:
- Eicosanoids are implicated in vascular tone regulation.
- Pulmonary circulation undergoes significant transition at birth.
- Pulmonary hypertension can complicate this transition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of eicosanoids in maintaining uterine vascular tone.
- To examine eicosanoid modulation of pulmonary circulation resistance during normal and abnormal transitions.
- To compare eicosanoid levels in perinatal sheep with and without pulmonary hypertension.
Main Methods:
- Serial hemodynamic measurements in perinatal sheep.
- Measurement of prostacyclin, thromboxane, and leukotrienes in fetal lung liquid, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and lung tissue.
- Analysis of lung tissue from serial biopsies before and after cesarean-section delivery.
Main Results:
- Lung leukotriene content was significantly lower in fetal lambs compared to maternal lungs.
- Lung prostacyclin content increased after delivery in late-gestation lambs.
- In experimental pulmonary hypertension, thromboxane B2 (TxB2) was elevated in lung tissue post-delivery, while leukotrienes were not.
Conclusions:
- Lung leukotriene levels do not decrease after cesarean-section delivery.
- The lipoxygenase pathway is not significantly activated by delivery following chronic intrauterine pulmonary hypertension.
- Thromboxane may play a role in maintaining elevated vascular tone in perinatal pulmonary hypertension.