The regulation of pulmonary vascular tone

1. The ability to manipulate pharmacologically pulmonary vascular tone independent of effects on systemic blood vessels is a desirable objective. Elucidation of the biochemical mechanisms underlying hypoxia-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) may permit preferential targeting of the pulmonary circulation. 2. Here we review our studies of the role of locally synthesized candidate vasoactive factors in HPV. In addition, we present data demonstrating an attenuated pressor response to hypoxia in the pulmonary circulation of Fischer 344 rats compared with the Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat strain. 3. We propose that a systematic genome-wide search using the HPV phenotype and a panel of highly informative microsatellite markers will elucidate the genetic loci underlying the difference in susceptibility to HPV in these two rat strains and provide a valuable and novel insight into the factors that determine the HPV response.