Humoral Agent from Calf Lung Producing Pulmonary Arterial Vasoconstriction

Abstract

Saline washings obtained in vivo from the lung of young calves produce pulmonary hypertension upon intrayascular (systemic or pulmonary) injection into either the dog or the calf. This pulmonary hypertension is produced by vasoconstriction of small, precapillary pulmonary vessels. The active agent, pulmonary arterial constrictor substance, differs chemically and physiologically from other substances which have been investigated with respect to vasomotor activity in the pulmonary circulation. Although the chemical nature of the active agent is not known it appears to have a relatively large molecular weight. Whether this agent plays a role in the physiological regulation of the pulmonary circulation is not known.