Plasma ET-1and NO level changes in pulmonary hypertensive rat models induced by monocrotaline

Objective:To determine the level changes of plasma endothelin 1(ET-1)and NO in the rat models with pulmonary hypertension induced by monocrotaline(MCT).Methods:Twenty adult male SD rats were randomized into normal controls(n=10)and MCT models(n=10).The pulmonary hypertensive animal models were established by intraperitoneal injection of MCT.Radioimmunoassay and chlormetric analysis were used to detect the plasma level of ET-1 and NO,respectively.Results:Three weeks after the injection of MCT,the mean pulmonary pressure was(18.13±4.33)mmHg in the controls and(31.65±8.52)mmHg in the models(P0.01).ET-1 plasma level was increased significantly(61.08±9.46 vs 95.92±15.78)while NO level was declined(115.32±27.15 vs 52.24±8.71)(P0.01).Conclusion:The potential mechanism of pulmonary hypertension induced by MCT suggests that ET-1 and NO content may be involved in the modified active compounds in the plasma.