Effect of a Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitor on Pulmonary and Cerebral Arteries of Newborn Piglets with Chronic Hypoxia-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension

摘要

BackgroundThe use of phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors to treat newborns with pulmonary hypertension is increasing. The effect of PDE5 inhibitors on the neonatal cerebral circulation remains unknown. The neonatal piglet model of chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension allows the study of the effects of PDE5 inhibitors on both the pulmonary and cerebral circulations. Objectives: To determine whether the PDE5 inhibitor, zaprinast, causes dilation in pulmonary and middle cerebral arteries (MCA) of normoxic newborn piglets and those with chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension, and to evaluate whether zaprinast alters responses to increased pressure (autoregulatory ability) of the MCA.