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The β2‐adrenoceptor terbutaline is a strong vasorelaxant of pulmonary arteries
Author(s) -
Wenzel Daniela,
Matthey Michaela,
Welschoff Julia,
Stolle Vanessa,
Knies Ralf,
Breuer Johannes,
Fleischmann Bernd K
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.2_supplement.57
Subject(s) - terbutaline , medicine , myograph , lung , pulmonary hypertension , cardiology , bronchodilator , bronchodilatation , pulmonary artery , anesthesia , vasodilation , asthma
The mechanisms underlying vascular tone regulation in the lung are of high pathophysiological relevance as selective pulmonary vasorelaxants are urgently needed for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. We have established different techniques (isometric force measurements, lung slices and the isolated perfused mouse lung) allowing the investigation of vascular tone in large and small pulmonary arteries of mouse. Terbutaline is a β2‐adrenergic agonist that proved to decrease airway tone but there is only little information in regard to its vasorelaxing properties. In force measurements with a myograph terbutaline relaxed large pulmonary arteries by 25.02±4.10%, n=5 in a dose‐dependent manner whereas there was no impact on the tone of aorta (n=5). To analyze the physiological relevance of terbutaline in the regulation of small pulmonary vessels we prepared 200 μm thick lung slices. Phase contrast microscopy showed that terbutaline dilated both small arteries by 80.49±18.71%, n=3 and airways by 53.95±14.45%, n=4, respectively. To assess the relevance of our findings for lung physiology isolated and ventilated mouse lungs were perfused with terbutaline. This strongly reduced pulmonary vascular pressure by 71.47±6.87%, n=5. Thus, the β2‐adrenergic agonist terbutaline decreases pulmonary vascular tone independent from its effect on the airways. The study was supported by the BONFOR program.