Vasoreactivity of Fluosol™ Perfluorocarbon Emulsion Vs. Earl's Balanced Salt / Albumin Perfusates in the Isolated Perfused Rat Lung

Abstract

We compare the vasoreactive responses of Fluosol™ perfluorocarbon emulsion versus Earl's balanced salt + albumin solution as perfusates in an isolated perfused rat lung. Comparisons were made with three separate vasoconstrictive stimuli: norepinephrine, and prostaglandin F_2α dose-response analysis, and generation of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. The hypoxia experiments were also performed with N-nitro-arginine added to the perfusates to block production of endogenous nitric oxide prior to the application of hypoxic ventilation challenge. The vasoconstrictive effects of norepinephrine, PGF_2α and hypoxia were significantly depressed in the perfluorocarbon perfused versus salt/albumin solution perfused lungs. With the addition of NNA to the perfusates, hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction is enhanced in both Earl's/albumin perfused as well as in the fluorocarbon perfused lungs. We can conclude that the pulmonary vasoconstrictive effects of norepinephrine, PGF_2α, and hypoxia are depressed in perfluorocarbon emulsion perfused, compared to salt-albumin solution perfused lungs. It is possible that perfluorocarbon emulsions interfere with normal endothelial function. As such, these compounds may be useful in examination of normal and abnormal endothelial function in various research applications.