Hyperglycemia increased the responsiveness of isolated rabbit's pulmonary arterial rings to serotonin

The effect and mechanism of action of serotonin (5-HT) were studied in the pulmonary circulation of normal and diabetic rabbits. 5-HT (10, 50 and 100 nmol/l) produced a concentration-dependent increase in rabbit pulmonary arterial tension. Pulmonary arterial rings from diabetic rabbits were more responsive to 5-HT compared to those from normal rabbits. The pressor effects of 5-HT in normal and diabetic pulmonary arterial rings were totally abolished by either the 5-HT receptor antagonist, ketanserin (200 nmol/l) or the calcium channel blocker, verapamil (5.5 nmol/l). On the other hand, the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin (0.4 nmol/l), significantly potentiated the pressor response of 5-HT in normal but not in diabetic pulmonary arterial rings. The lipoxygenase inhibitor, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA, 20 nmol/l), significantly enhanced the 5-HT-induced pressor response in normal rings while significantly attenuating those responses in diabetic rings. NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (100 nmol/l), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, significantly potentiated the contractile response of 5-HT in normal as well as diabetic pulmonary arterial rings. The results of this study indicate that 5-HT induces pulmonary hypertension in normal as well as in diabetic rabbits. In addition, experimentally induced diabetes exaggerates the pressor response of 5-HT and therefore may increase the risk of pulmonary hypertension. Furthermore, 5-HT alone or in combination with indomethacin, NDGA and a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor may be used to induce experimental pulmonary hypertension and possibly pulmonary edema.