Endothelins (ET) have opposite vascular effects mediated through different receptors: ET(A) receptors mediating vasoconstriction and ET(B) receptors mediating vasoconstriction as well as vasodilation. The role of ET in acute hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) was studied after dual ET receptor blockade with
bosentan and
nitric oxide (
NO) synthase inhibition with nitro-
L-arginine (L-NA). We started from the hypothesis that ET antagonism may inhibit HPV but, if not, would do so after
NO synthase inhibition. HPV was evaluated in anesthetized lambs, with an intact pulmonary circulation, by the increase in the mean pulmonary artery pressure (Ppa) minus occluded Ppa (Ppao) gradient in response to
hypoxia (inspiratory
oxygen fraction of 0.1) at different levels of pulmonary flow (multipoint pressure/flow relationships). ET receptor antagonism decreased pulmonary and systemic vascular tone both in
hyperoxia and
hypoxia. ET antagonism had no effect on HPV.
NO synthase inhibition increased pulmonary vascular tone more in
hypoxia than in
hyperoxia so that HPV was enhanced. After L-NA,
bosentan still decreased pulmonary vascular tone in
hypoxia but did not affect the magnitude of HPV. The present results suggest that ET and NO are involved in the regulation of basal pulmonary vascular tone. Furthermore, the
vasodilator effect of
bosentan persisted in the presence of
NO synthase inhibition, suggesting a non NO-dependent
vasodilator mechanism. The results from these experiments are in agreement with the idea that ET do not play a major role in HPV in the perinatal lamb, even when it is enhanced by
NO synthase inhibition.