Research communications in chemical pathology and pharmacology
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Res. Commun. Chem. Pathol. Pharmacol. · Nov 1988
Polyamine content in pulmonary arteries from rats with monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension.
Based on the documented role of polyamines in regulation of cell growth and differentiation, we have proposed that these organic cations are essential for hypertrophic and hyperplastic responses of pulmonary vascular cells which underlie development of hypertensive pulmonary vascular disease. In support of this contention, we have shown in rat models of monocrotaline (MCT)- and chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension that whole-lung polyamine contents are elevated and that blockade of polyamine synthesis forestalls development of hypertensive pulmonary vascular remodeling and sustained pulmonary hypertension. To determine if the involvement of polyamines in pulmonary hypertension could be ascribed to events occurring in cells of the vascular wall, as opposed to parenchymal or airways cells, the present study measured polyamine contents as a function of time in macroscopic pulmonary arteries from MCT-treated rats. ⋯ In pulmonary arterial segments, contents of putrescine and spermidine were augmented significantly at 7 and 21 days after MCT treatment. Spermine content in arterial segments was increased at 21 days. Right ventricular hypertrophy indicative of sustained pulmonary hypertension was not evident until 21 days post-treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)