Adrenal component to pulmonary hypertension induced by elevated cerebrospinal fluid pressure

In this study we investigated the possibility that a circulating vasoactive agent contributes to the pulmonary hypertension elicited by elevated cerebrospinal fluid pressure (PCSF) using a denervated canine left lower lung lobe (LLL) preparation that was pump perfused with mixed venous blood at constant flow and venous pressure. Raising the PCSF to an average 190 Torr resulted in a 34.3% increase in LLL inflow pressure. This response was eliminated by adrenal venous occlusion and also by alpha-blockade of the LLL. The results indicated that adrenal catecholamines were responsible for the LLL response. The passively induced elevation of left atrial pressure (Pla) that occurs in the intact animal during elevated PCSF was stimulated in the LLL by raising the outflow pressure. This maneuver attenuated the increase in LLL vascular resistance and suggested that the elevation in Pla seen in the intact animal could mask humorally mediated responses of the magnitude we observed.