Faculty Collaboration Database

Pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary vascular reactivity in beagles at high altitude. J Appl Physiol (1985) 1988 Dec;65(6):2632-40

Date

12/01/1988

Pubmed ID

2975278

DOI

10.1152/jappl.1988.65.6.2632

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0024263820 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   34 Citations

Abstract

It is unclear whether dogs develop pulmonary hypertension (PH) at high altitude. Beagles from sea level were exposed to an altitude of 3,100 m (PB 525 Torr) for 12-19 mo and compared with age-matched controls remaining at low altitude of 130 m (PB 750 Torr). In beagles taken to high altitude as adults, pulmonary arterial pressures (PAP) at 3,100 m were 21.6 +/- 2.6 vs. 13.2 +/- 1.2 Torr in controls. Likewise, in beagles taken to 3,100 m as puppies 2.5 mo old, PAP was 23.2 +/- 2.1 vs. 13.8 +/- 0.4 Torr in controls. This PH reflected a doubling of pulmonary vascular resistance and showed no progression with time at altitude. Pulmonary vascular reactivity to acute hypoxia was also enhanced at 3,100 m. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis did not attenuate the PH or the enhanced reactivity. Once established, the PH was only partially reversed by acute relief of chronic hypoxia, but reversal was virtually complete after return to low altitude. Hence, beagles do develop PH at 3,100 m of a severity comparable to that observed in humans at the same or even higher altitudes.

Author List

Grover RF, Johnson RL Jr, McCullough RG, McCullough RE, Hofmeister SE, Campbell WB, Reynolds RC

Author

William B. Campbell PhD Professor in the Pharmacology and Toxicology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Altitude
Animals
Cardiomegaly
Dogs
Hematocrit
Hemodynamics
Hypertension, Pulmonary
Hypoxia
Male
Pulmonary Circulation
Vascular Resistance