[Beneficial effects of renal denervation on pulmonary vascular remodeling in experimental pulmonary artery hypertension].

OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects of renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) on pulmonary vascular remodeling in a model of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). METHODS:According to the random number table, 24 beagles were randomized into control, PAH and PAH+RSD groups (n=8 each). The levels of neurohormone, echocardiogram and dynamics parameters were measured. Then 0.1 ml/kg dimethylformamide (control group) or 2 mg/kg dehydromonocrotaline (PAH and PAH+RSD groups) were injected. The PAH+RSD group underwent RSD after injection. At week 8 post-injection, the neurohormone levels, echocardiogram, dynamics parameters and pulmonary tissue morphology were observed. RESULTS:The values of right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) and pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP) in PAH and PAH+RSD groups were both significantly higher than those in control group ((42.8±8.7), (30.8±6.8) vs (23.2±5.7) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and (45.1±11.2), (32.6±7.9) vs (24.7±7.1) mmHg). Meanwhile, the values of RVSP and PASP in PAH group were higher than those in PAH+RSD group (all P<0.01). The levels of serum angiotensin II (Ang II) and endothelin-1 significantly increased after 8 weeks in PAH dogs ((228±41) vs (113±34) pg/ml and (135±15) vs (77±7) pg/ml, all P<0.01). And Ang II and endothelin-1 were higher in lung tissues of PAH group ((65±10) and (96±10) pg/ml) than in those of control group ((38±7) and (54±6) pg/ml) and PAH+RSD group ((46±8) and (67±9) pg/ml) (all P<0.01). Pulmonary tissues had marked collagen hyperplasia and lamellar corpuscles of type 2 alveolar cells were damaged more severely in PAH dogs than in PAH+RSD dogs. CONCLUSIONS:RSD suppresses pulmonary vascular remodeling and decreases pulmonary arterial pressure in experimental PAH. And the effect of RSD on PAH may contribute to decreased neurohormone levels.