Relation of TXA2 and PGI2 to the difference in hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction between different strains of rats

TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha levels in arterial and venous plasma of Wistar and Hilltop rats during hypoxia were measured to investigate the roles of TXA2 and PGI2 in hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) and responsiveness difference of pulmonary vessels to hypoxia between different strains of rats. The results showed that PGI2 might play an important role in maintaining the low resistance in pulmonary circulation of these two strains of rats. Increased TXA2 during hypoxia may partially mediate HPV in Wistar rats, while augmented PGI2 during hypoxia may modulate HPV in Wistar rats. This might be the important mechanism responsible for more intensive responsiveness of pulmonary vessels to hypoxia in Hilltop rats than in Wistar rats.