Bacterial sepsis-induced decrease in lung vascular reactivity to 9,11-dideoxy-11a9a-epoxymethano-prostaglandin F2 alpha (U46619) in the rat.

Abstract

This study determined whether a sepsis-associated increase in cyclooxygenase products altered the pulmonary vascular response to the thromboxane A2 mimic, 9,11-dideoxy-11a,9a-epoxymethano-prostaglandin F2 alpha (U46619). Rats were anesthetized (50 mg/kg of sodium pentobarbital i.p.), and sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture. Four hours later, pulmonary effluent immunoreactive thromboxane (iTXB2) levels were significantly increased (156.8%) and pulmonary vascular reactivity to U46619 (50-200 ng) was significantly (P less than .05) decreased compared to lungs from nonseptic controls. This decreased vascular reactivity was not seen in lungs from cecally ligated rats challenged with angiotensin II (5-200 ng). Sham surgery did not alter pulmonary iTXB2 synthesis nor did it result in a depressed vascular response to U46619. Rats pretreated with ibuprofen (15 mg/kg i.v.) did not show the sepsis-associated increase in iTXB2 levels nor was a decrease in pulmonary vascular reactivity to U46619 observed. These data indicate that a sepsis-associated increase in TXA2 and/or other cyclooxygenase products can alter the pulmonary vascular response to the TXA2 mimic, U46619.