Influence of vasoactive intestinal contractor on the feline pulmonary vascular bed

Pulmonary vascular responses to vasoactive intestinal contractor (VIC) (endothelin-B) were investigated in the feline pulmonary vascular bed under constant and natural flow conditions. Injection of VIC, 0.3 nmol/kg i.v., increased pulmonary arterial and left atrial pressures and cardiac output and caused a biphasic change in pulmonary vascular resistance. VIC and endothelin-1 (ET-1) caused a similar pattern of response and under constant flow conditions, VIC increased lobar arterial pressure in a dose-related manner and was similar in potency and duration of action to ET-1. The thromboxane mimic, U46619, was far more potent than VIC, and a monocyclic ET-analog had no activity in the pulmonary vascular bed. The present data show that VIC has significant vasoconstrictor activity in the pulmonary vascular bed of the cat.