Effects of N omega-nitro-L-arginine on total and segmental vascular resistances in developing lamb lungs

To determine whether endothelium-derived nitic oxide (EDNO), like dilator prostaglandins, attenuates pulmonary vasomotor tone more in younger than in older newborns, we examined the effects of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, N omega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NA), on total and segmental pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in isolated blood-perfused cyclooxygenase-inhibited lungs of < 2-day-old (2D) and 1-mo-old (1M) lambs. Total PVR was determined both from steady-state pressure-flow curves and total pressure gradients (delta PT) measured at constant flow (100 ml.kg-1 x min-1). Pressure gradients across arterial (delta Pa), middle (delta Pm), and venous (delta Pv) segments were determined by inflow-outflow occlusion. In 1M lungs (n = 6), L-NA increased delta PT, delta Pa, and delta Pv during normoxia and hypoxia. However, delta Pm increased only during hypoxia, suggesting that EDNO attenuates resistance of small vessels more when tone is high. The response to L-NA in 2D lungs was variable. In four "responders" (2D"R"), normoxic and hypoxic delta PT and all segmental resistances increased markedly after L-NA, but in five "nonresponders" (2D"NR"), L-NA had an insignificant effect on delta PT. Moreover, control delta PT values were higher in 2D"NR" than in 2D"R" lungs, suggesting that basal EDNO activity was minimal in some young newborns. Nonetheless, EDNO appears to attenuate venous resistance in newborns, because L-NA increased delta Pv in all groups. The significance of and mechanism(s) responsible for lesser modulation of PVR by EDNO in some young newborns remain to be determined.