Endothelial cell pavement pattern in the pulmonary trunk in rats in chronic hypoxia

Right ventricular hypertrophy, and by inference pulmonary arterial hypertension, were induced in female Wistar Albino rats by subjecting them to a barometric pressure of 380 mmHg for four weeks. A control group was kept at normal barometric pressure for a similar period of time. The cell boundaries of the endothelial lining of the aorta, pulmonary trunk and inferior vena cava were stained in situ by a modified silver method of Poole et al. (1958). Photomicrographs of the intimal surfaces of these blood vessels at a standard magnification were used to determine the length, breadth and area of the cells. In the control rats the endothelial cells were found to have a characteristic shape and size in each of the three vessels studied. Those of the aorta were small and elongated in the direction of blood flow with tapering ends. The endothelial cells of the inferior vena cava were rectangular. Those of the pulmonary trunk were polygonal and had tessellated borders. In the test rats with right ventricular hypertrophy induced by chronic hypoxia the endothelial cell pavement pattern of the pulmonary trunk changed to resemble that of the aorta. It is considered that this was an expression of the acquired pulmonary hypertension, the fusiform shape appearing appropriate for an elevated pressure.