The effect of endothelin-I (ET-1) on the blood flow contributions of t
he pulmonary and systemic circulations to the trachea and main bronchi
were measured in anesthetized dogs by injecting 15-mum radiolabeled m
icrospheres into the right and left heart, respectively. After the mic
rosphere injections the animals were killed, and the tracheal cartilag
e, tracheal muscle mucosa, and main bronchi were excised and collected
for radioactive counting. The results of this study showed that under
normal conditions tracheal blood flow was primarily systemic (>95% of
total tracheal blood flow) averaging 25-50 ml/min/100 g, whereas both
the pulmonary (9-10 ml/min/100 g) and systemic circulations (19-20 ml
/min/100 g) contributed substantially to main bronchi blood flow. Admi
nistration of ET-1 i. v. decreased systemic tracheal cartilage blood f
low from 25.3 +/- 3.8 to 14.5 +/- 2.8 ml/min/100 g, systemic tracheal
mucosal blood flow from 50.0 +/- 7.0 to 25.0 +/- 7.0 ml/min/100 g, and
systemic main bronchi blood flow from 19.4 +/- 4.6 to 11.6 +/- 3.4 ml
/min/100 g (p<0.05). These results indicate that ET-1 is a potent cons
trictor of the airway circulation and may contribute to airway ischemi
a seen in different airway disease states.