Developmental Changes in Constriction of the Ductus Arteriosus: Responses to Oxygen and Vasoactive Agents in the Isolated Ductus Arteriosus of the Fetal Lamb

Download PDF Article Published: 01 April 1972 Developmental Changes in Constriction of the Ductus Arteriosus: Responses to Oxygen and Vasoactive Agents in the Isolated Ductus Arteriosus of

the Fetal Lamb Dorothy M Mcmurphy1, Michael A Heymann1, Abraham M Rudolph1 & …Kenneth L Melmon1 Show authors Pediatric Research volume 6, pages 231–238 (1972)Cite this article

950 Accesses

95 Citations

Metrics details

Extract: Development of the constrictor response of the ductus arteriosus to O2 and selected vasoactive drugs (acetylcholine and bradykinin) was studied in 20 fetal lambs weighing 680–4800 g

(90− to 150-day gestation). The isolated ductus arteriosus was perfused in vitro with Tyrode's solution at constant flow, temperature (38°), pH (7.3–7.4), and P CO 2 (30–40 mm Hg), and the

mean pressure difference across the ductus was measured. Ductal resistance was calculated at different levels of P O 2 (10–700 mm Hg), raised stepwise to produce dose-response curves. Three

young fetuses failed to respond initially to O2 and in the other 17 the initial response occurred at progressively lower P O 2 levels with advancing gestation. The maximal degree of

constriction developed showed a progressive increase with advancing gestational age.

At any given P O 2 , both acetylcholine and bradykinin produced a further increase in resistance when added to the perfusion solution, but this further increase was independent of age. The

level of P O 2 at which an initial response occurred was decreased after exposure to acetylcholine but not bradykinin.

Speculation: The ductus arteriosus of the fetal lamb constricts when exposed to oxygen. The initial level of P O 2 at which this constriction occurs decreases, and the maximal degree of

constriction increases, with advancing gestational age. The poor response to oxygen of the ductus arteriosus in the immature fetus may be the mechanism responsible for the high incidence of

patent ductus arteriosus in premature infants. Constriction following-oxygen may be augmented by the exposure to acetylcholine or bradykinin.

Similar content being viewed by others Association between patent ductus arteriosus flow and home oxygen therapy in extremely preterm infants Article Open access 07 March 2024 Response of

the ductus arteriosus to acetaminophen or indomethacin in extremely low birth weight infants Article Open access 18 December 2024 The often forgotten systemic effects of ductus arteriosus:

impact on decision-making and future trials Article 22 July 2021 Article PDF Author informationAuthors and Affiliations Departments of Pediatrics and Pharmacology and the Cardiovascular

Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA

Dorothy M Mcmurphy, Michael A Heymann, Abraham M Rudolph & Kenneth L Melmon

AuthorsDorothy M McmurphyView author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Michael A HeymannView author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Abraham M RudolphView author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Kenneth L MelmonView author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions Reprints and permissions

About this articleCite this article Mcmurphy, D., Heymann, M., Rudolph, A. et al. Developmental Changes in Constriction of the Ductus Arteriosus: Responses to Oxygen and Vasoactive Agents in

the Isolated Ductus Arteriosus of the Fetal Lamb. Pediatr Res 6, 231–238 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197204000-00004

Download citation

Issue Date: 01 April 1972

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197204000-00004

Share this article Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Get shareable link Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Copy to clipboard Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

KeywordsAcetylcholinebradykinindevelopmental physiologyductus arteriosusprematurity This article is cited by Chest shielding in preterm neonates under phototherapy—a randomised control trial

Saurabh KapoorDivya MishraSuksham Jain European Journal of Pediatrics (2021)

Porcine versus bovine surfactant therapy for RDS in preterm neonates: pragmatic meta-analysis and review of physiopathological plausibility of the effects on extra-pulmonary outcomes Silvia

FolignoDaniele De Luca Respiratory Research (2020)

A mitochondrial redox oxygen sensor in the pulmonary vasculature and ductus arteriosus Kimberly J. Dunham-SnaryZhigang G. HongStephen L. Archer Pflügers Archiv - European Journal of

Physiology (2016)

Clinical Pharmacology of Indomethacin in Preterm Infants: Implications in Patent Ductus Arteriosus Closure Gian Maria Pacifici Pediatric Drugs (2013)

Prenatal closure of the ductus arteriosus and maternal ingestion of anthocyanins V KapadiaD EmbersC R Rosenfeld Journal of Perinatology (2010)