Cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) plays an important role in regulating pulmonary vasomotor tone in the perinatal period. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that a change in
oxygen tension affects PKG-mediated pulmonary vasodilation. Isolated intrapulmonary arteries and veins of near-term fetal lambs were first incubated for 4 h under hypoxic and normoxic conditions (Po2 of 30 and 140 mmHg, respectively) and then contracted with
endothelin-1.
8-Bromoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-BrcGMP), a cell membrane-permeable analog of cGMP, induced a greater relaxation in vessels incubated in normoxia than in
hypoxia. beta-Phenyl-1,N2-etheno-8-bromoguanosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate, Rp isomer (Rp-8-Br-PET-cGMPS), a selective inhibitor of PKG, attenuated relaxation induced by 8-BrcGMP (10-4 and 3 x 10-4 M). In the presence of Rp-8-Br-PET-cGMPS, the differential responses to 8-BrcGMP between
hypoxia and normoxia treatment were abolished in veins but not in arteries. cGMP-stimulated PKG activity was present in arteries but not in veins after 4 h of
hypoxia. Both vessel types showed significant increase in cGMP-stimulated PKG activity after 4 h of normoxia. PKG
protein (Western blot analysis) and PKG
mRNA levels (quantitative RT-PCR) were greater in veins but not in arteries after 4-h exposure to normoxia vs.
hypoxia. These results demonstrate that
oxygen augments cGMP-mediated vasodilation of fetal pulmonary arteries and veins. Furthermore, the effect of
oxygen on response of the veins to cGMP is due to an increase in the activity,
protein level, and
mRNA of PKG.