The dynamic changes of rat blood vessel endothelium function in acute pulmonary embolism

Objective To observe the dynamic changes of rat blood endothelin(ET)and nitric oxide(NO)levels in order to explore the functional change of rat blood vessel endothelium in acute pulmonary embolism(PE).Methods Male SD rats were injected with medical gelfoam microspheres via jugular vein to prepare PE model.Thirty-two rats were randomized into four groups of 8 rats each:control group,embolism for 24 hours group,embolism for 1 week group and for 2 weeks group.Blood ET,NO were examined at the time of sacrifice.Lung tissue was sliced and stained with HE to observe the embolism of pulmonary artery.Results Compared with control group,in embolism for 24 hours group,embolism for 1 week group and for 2 weeks group,the blood ET was increased significantly and blood NO was reduced significantly.Most of the the gelfoam dissolved at week 2.Conclusions The elevation of blood ET and reduction of NO in rats after acute PE were related to the injury of blood vessel endothelium.