[The mechanisms of ET-1-induced lung edema].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the machanisms of ET-1-induced lung edema. METHODS: Different doses of ET-1 were added to isolate rat lungs perfused by Ringer's solution containing albumin to explore the mechanisms of ET-1 induced pulmonary edema. The lung weight gain, pulmonary vascular permeability to water (Wf) and albumin (Ps) were observed. RESULTS: It was found that low dose ET-1 increased lung weight gain, pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary capillary pressure, pulmonary vascular post-resistance and total resistance, but no significant changes of vascular permeability were observed. CONCLUSION: The mechanisms of lung edema induced by ET-1 are different. Low dose ET-1 may induce lung edema by increasing pulmonary vascular permeability while large dose ET-1 by increasing pulmonary vascular pressure.