Affiliations: [a] Department of Respiratory Diseases, The Second Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China | [b] Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, The Second Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China | [c] Department of Respiratory Diseases, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Dr. Feng Hu, Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, the Second Clinical Medical School of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China. Tel.: +86 013511764860; Fax: +86 0514 8721 3549; E-mail: huf2007@163.com.
Abstract: Objectives:Drag-reducing polymers (DRPs) are blood-soluble macromolecules which may increase blood flow and reduce vascular resistance. The purpose of the present study was to observe the effect of DRPs on monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH) in the rat model. Methods:A total of 64 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: Group I (pulmonary hypertension model + DRP treatment); Group II (pulmonary hypertension model + saline treatment); Group III (control + DRP treatment); Group IV (control + saline treatment). After five weeks, comparisons were made of the following indices: survival rate, body weight, blood pressure, right ventricular systolic pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy, wall thickness of pulmonary arteries, the internal diameter of small pulmonary arteries, plasma IL-1β and IL-6. Results:The survival rate after 5 weeks varied significantly across all groups (P=0.013), but the survival rates of Groups I and II were not statistically significantly different. Administration of DRP (intravenous injection twice weekly) attenuated the PH-induced increase in right ventricular systolic pressure and suppressed the increases in right ventricular (RV) weight and the ratio of right ventricular weight to left ventricle plus septum weight (RV/LV + S). DRP treatment also significantly decreased the wall thickness of pulmonary arteries, augmented the internal diameter of small pulmonary arteries, and suppressed increases in the plasma levels of IL-1β and IL-6. Conclusions:DRP treatment with intravenous injection effectively inhibited the development of monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension in the rat model. DRPs may have potential application for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension.
