Angiogenesis in the bronchial circulatory system following
unilateral pulmonary artery obstruction.
Charan, Nirmal B., Paula Carvalho.
PULMONARY RESEARCH LABORATORY, VA MEDICAL CENTER, BOISE, IDAHO,
DIVISION OF PULMONARY/CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE,
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
APStracts 3:0256A, 1996.
We studied the effects of left pulmonary artery (LPA) ligation on the
bronchial circulatory system (BCS) using a sheep model. The LPA was
ligated soon after birth (n=8) and, at approximately 3 years of age,
anatomical studies revealed marked angiogenesis in the BCS. Bronchial
blood flow (QBR) and cardiac output were studied by placing flow
probes around the bronchial and pulmonary arteries in four adult
sheep. Following LPA ligation, QBR increased from 35+/-6 ml/min to
134+/-42 ml/min in about three weeks (p <0.05). We also studied
gas exchange functions of the BCS, about 3 years after ligating LPA
in newborn lambs (n=4), and used a control group (n=12) where the LPA
was ligated acutely. In the left lung, oxygen uptake after acute
ligation was 16+/-3 ml/min and was similar to the chronic model,
whereas CO2 elimination in control group was 27+/-3 ml/min as
compared to 79+/-12 ml/min in the chronic preparation (p <0.5).
We conclude that LPA ligation causes marked angiogenesis in BCS which
is capable of performing some gas exchange functions.
Received 21 December 1995; accepted in final form 14 May 1996.
APS Manuscript Number A1327-5.
Article publication pending Journal of Applied Physiology.
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 5 June 96