Circulatory Response to Release of Chronic Pulmonary Artery Constriction

The imposition of a chronic work load (pulmonary artery constriction) on the right ventricle increases ventricular muscle mass. This is associated with increased ventricular stroke work when the animal is standing awake, during infusions of norepinephrine, and under conditions of exercise (running on a horizontal treadmill). Studies two weeks after release of chronic pulmonary artery constriction reveal stroke volume and cardiac output are increased during standing at rest, during norepinephrine infusion, and during exercise. Studies eight weeks after removal of pulmonary artery bands show that stroke volume and cardiac output are approaching the normal range. Right ventricular hypertrophy and right ventricular stroke work decline progressively and apparently in parallel in the weeks following release of chronic pulmonary artery constriction. The stroke work capacity of the ventricle seems related to the presence of right ventricular hypertrophy. With a reduction in outflow tract resistance, the stroke volume for a given set of circumstances is markedly increased. From this standpoint, the work capacity of the right ventricle may be taken as a determinant of stroke volume and cardiac output. Decrease of systemic vascular resistance and relative insensitivity of systemic vasoreceptors to norepinephrine were observed after the release of chronic pulmonary artery constriction. These phenomena have roles in the production of the observed hyperdynamic circulatory state, but their contributions to its genesis are secondary to the major role of the hypertrophied right ventricle.