EDRF in pulmonary resistance vessels from fetal lamb: stimulation by oxygen and bradykinin

Endothelium-derived relaxing factor-nitric oxide (EDRF-NO) has been studied in isolated, pulmonary resistance vessels from term fetal lambs at a fetal (21 +/- 0.2 mmHg) and neonatal (69 +/- 0.4 mmHg) PO2. Bradykinin dose dependently (0.1-100 nM) relaxed arteries and veins that had been precontracted with a thromboxane A2 analogue. Their response did not differ at low PO2, whereas the response of the arteries was greater at high PO2. Sodium nitroprusside was almost as potent as bradykinin on the arteries, but its action did not vary with PO2. Acetylcholine also relaxed the arteries at higher concentrations (0.1-100 microM). N omega-mono-methyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) and N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (both at 100 microM) weakly contracted arteries at low PO2. The contraction to L-NAME, but not L-NMMA, increased with the PO2. In the arteries, L-NAME had no effect on bradykinin relaxation at low PO2, whereas it was an inhibitor at high PO2. Conversely, L-NMMA slightly inhibited bradykinin relaxation regardless of PO2. In the veins, L-NAME transiently increased basal tone and inhibited bradykinin relaxation at either PO2. Indomethacin (2.8 microM) had no effect on arteries at low PO2, whereas it was a constrictor at high PO2. No indomethacin constriction occurred in the veins. We conclude that fetal pulmonary resistance vessels possess an EDRF-NO relaxing mechanism that is stimulated by bradykinin. In the arteries, this mechanism is more effective at high PO2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)