
Article in Japanese
Vascular response of pulmonary circulation
Yoshiteru Morioa Yasushi Hoshikawab
aDivision of Respiratory Medicine, Juntendo University School of Medicine
bDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Institute of Development, Aging, and Cancer, Tohoku University
Pulmonary circulation has peculiar characteristics. They demonstrate a remarkable alteration from fetal circulation at birth and also vasoconstriction under hypoxic exposure that are quite different from systemic circulation. The mechanism of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction reveals multiple pathogenesis, although it remains to be elucidated. Each of the vascular mediators of three major pathways, such as prostacyclin-, endothelin-, and nitric-oxide-dependent pathways that correspond to current therapeutic targets for pulmonary arterial hypertension, causes various effects on pulmonary circulation. This article reviews the specific vascular responses of pulmonary circulation.
Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction Nitric oxide Prostacyclin Endothelin
AJRS, 3(4): 464-470, 2014