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Pulmonary and systemic hemodynamic responses to intravenous prostacyclin in broilers
R F Wideman1, M E Chapman, G F Erf
1Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA. rwideman@uark.edu
Poultry Science
|March 24, 2005
Summary
Prostacyclin (PGI2) did not relax avian pulmonary arteries in broilers, unlike in mammals. This study found PGI2 reduced blood pressure by decreasing cardiac output, not by dilating blood vessels, suggesting differences in avian cardiovascular responses.
Area of Science:
- Comparative physiology
- Cardiovascular research
- Avian medicine
Background:
- Prostacyclin (PGI2) is a vasodilator that reduces pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and pulmonary hypertension in mammals.
- Limited data exists on PGI2's effects on avian pulmonary vasculature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the pulmonary vascular responses to PGI2 in male broilers.
- To determine if PGI2 acts as a pulmonary vasodilator in avian species under various conditions.
Main Methods:
- Three experiments were conducted on male broilers.
- PGI2 was infused into clinically healthy broilers, broilers with arachidonic acid (AA)-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction, and subclinically hypertensive broilers.
- Pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), and cardiac output were measured.
Main Results:
- PGI2 infusion did not reduce PVR in any experimental group.
- PGI2 reduced PAP in all groups solely by decreasing cardiac output.
- These effects were transient, with PAP and cardiac output returning to baseline levels after PGI2 infusion ceased.
Conclusions:
- PGI2 does not function as an effective pulmonary vasodilator in broilers.
- Avian pulmonary vasculature exhibits different responses to PGI2 compared to mammals.
- Potential differences in arachidonic acid metabolism or pulmonary hypertension etiology may explain these findings.