A. Adamicza et al., Endothelin-1-induced airway and parenchymal mechanical responses in guinea-pigs: the roles of ETA and ETB receptors, EUR RESP J, 17(5), 2001, pp. 975-981
Endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been shown to have a constrictor effect on the airw
ays and parenchyma; however, the roles of the ETA and ETB receptors in the
ET-1-induced changes in the airway and tissue compartments have not been fu
lly explored.
Low-frequency pulmonary impedance (ZL) was measured in anaesthetized, paral
ysed, open-chest guinea-pigs. ZL spectra were fitted by a model to estimate
airway resistance (Raw) and inertance (law), and coefficients of tissue da
mping (G) and elastance (H), and hysteresivity (eta = G/H).
Two successive doses of ET-1 (0.05 and 0.2 nmol.kg(-1)) each evoked signifi
cant dose-related increases in Raw, G, H and eta. Pretreatment with 20 nmol
.kg(-1) BQ-610 (a highly selective ETA receptor antagonist) resulted in a s
ignificantly decreased elevation only in H after the lower dose of ET-1. Ho
wever, all parameters changed significantly less on the administration of E
T-1 after pretreatment with 80 nmol.kg(-1) BQ-610, with 20 nmol.kg(-1) ETR-
P1/fl (a novel ETA receptor antagonist) or with 20 nmol.kg(-1) IRL 1038 (an
ETB receptor antagonist).
The results of the separate assessments of the airway and tissue mechanics
demonstrate that endothelin-1 induces airway and parenchymal constriction v
ia stimulation of both receptor types in both compartments.