Drag-reducing polymers attenuates pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular dysfunction in a rat model of chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension

Drag-reducing polymers (DRPs) was previously demonstrated to increase blood flow, tissue perfusion, and reduce vascular resistance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of DRPs on pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular dysfunction in a rat model of chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (HPH). A total of forty male Wistar rats were randomly and equally assigned into four experimental groups (Group I: normoxia + saline, Group II: normoxia + PEO, Group III: hypoxia + saline, Group IV: hypoxia + PEO) and maintained in normoxia (21% O2) or hypobaric hypoxia (10% O2). After four weeks, comparisons were made of the following aspects: the mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), right ventricular hypertrophy, wall thickness of pulmonary trunk and arteries, internal diameter of pulmonary arteries, cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area (CM CSA), and ultrastructure of right ventricular. Treatment with PEO in Group IV attenuated the increases in RVSP and mPAP (40.5±7.2 and 34.7±7.0 mmHg, respectively, both P < 0.05), compared with Group III. Distal vascular remodeling was visible as a significant increase in medial wall thickness (64.2±12.3% vs. 43.95±7.0%, P < 0.01) and a remarkable decrease in internal diameter of small pulmonary arteries (35.2±9.7μ m vs. 50.4±14.7μ m, P < 0.01) in Group III, to a greater extent than that detected in Group IV. Nevertheless, no significant histopathological differences in medial wall thickness was observed in pulmonary trunk between Group III and Group IV (P > 0.05), denoting that PEO chiefly attenuated the remodeling of small pulmonary arteries rather than main arteries in hypoxic environment. Infusion of DRPs (intravenous injection twice weekly) also attenuated the index of right ventricular hypertrophy, protected against the increase of cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area, and provided protection for cardiac ultrastructure. DRP treatment with intravenous injection elicited a protective effect against pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular dysfunction in the rat model of HPH. DRPs may offer a new potential approach for the treatment of HPH, which may have theoretical significance and application value to society.