Lung vascular responses and VA/Q matching after chronic hypoxia in neonatal piglets

J Dev Physiol. 1993 Apr;19(4):157-63.

Abstract

We hypothesized that exposure of neonatal swine to chronic alveolar hypoxia (CH) would cause increased PVR, blunt acute hypoxic vasoconstriction, and increase VA/Q mismatch. After exposure to either normobaric alveolar hypoxia (FIO2 = 0.10) or room air for 2 weeks, animals were anesthetized and ventilated first with room air and then with hypoxic gas (FIO2 = 0.12). PVR, and pressure-flow (P/Q) relations were measured between 15-100% of baseline cardiac output. VA/Q matching was measured by the multiple inert gas elimination technique. During room air breathing, the mean PVR and P/Q slope in the CH animals was significantly greater than in the control (C) animals. P/Q intercepts were similar and near the origin for both groups. The absolute PVR and P/Q slope were greater for CH compared to C animals during acute alveolar hypoxia. The fractional increase in PVR and P/Q slope in the response to acute hypoxia was similar for both groups. PaO2, intrapulmonary shunt, and SDQp (an index of VA/Q heterogeneity) were similar for both groups. We conclude that CH in neonatal swine causes pulmonary hypertension, but does not attenuate acute hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, nor VA/Q matching.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Weight
  • Hemodynamics
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / physiopathology
  • Hypoxia / physiopathology*
  • Lung / blood supply*
  • Lung / physiopathology
  • Pulmonary Circulation
  • Pulmonary Gas Exchange
  • Respiration
  • Swine
  • Vascular Resistance*
  • Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio*