Effects of Anoxia on Pressure, Resistance and Blood (P32) Volume of Pulmonary Vessels

Abstract

Pulmonary arterial pressure was elevated in anesthetized dogs breathing 5 to 10% oxygen. This can best be explained by chemoreceptor reflexes from the carotid and aortic bodies along with epinephrine release. These 2 factors increase pulmonary flow. In these expts. pulmonary vessels respond to hypoxia by local dilation. No evidence of constriction was found. Despite a local dilation of pulmonary vessels during hypoxia pulmonary arterial pressure and blood volume are increased because of the increased pulmonary blood flow.