Chronic intermittent hypercapnic hypoxia increases pulmonary arterial pressure and haematocrit in rats

Chronic intermittent hypoxia enhances ventilatory long-term facilitation in awake rats

This study examined the effect of chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH: 5 min 11-12% O2/5 min air, 12 h/night, 7 nights) on ventilatory long-term facilitation (LTF) and determined the persistence period of this CIH effect in awake rats. LTF, elicited by 5 or 10 episodes of 5 min 12% O2, was measured four times in the same Sprague-Dawley rats by plethysmography, before and 8 h, 3 days, and 7 days after CIH treatment. Resting ventilation was unchanged after CIH. Five episodes of 12% O2 did not initially elicit LTF but elicited LTF (23.5 +/- 1.4% above baseline) 8 h after CIH, which partially remained at 3 days (11.4 +/- 2.2%, P < 0.05) and disappeared at 7 days. Ten episodes initially elicited LTF (17.7 +/- 1.1%, 45-min duration) and elicited an enhanced LTF (29.1 +/- 1.5%, 75 min) 8 h after CIH. These results demonstrated that CIH enhanced ventilatory LTF in conscious, freely behaving rats in two ways: 1) a previously ineffective protocol induced LTF; and 2) LTF magnitude was increased and LTF duration prolonged, and this CIH effect on LTF persisted for at least 3 days.

Pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension due to lung disease

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) often complicates the course of patients with advanced lung disease, and it is associated with a worse prognosis. Per the recent classification of pulmonary hypertensive disorders, PH due to lung disease is considered as a separate category within a group of disorders that was previously referred to as "secondary" PH. Among the lung diseases associated with PH, the incidence and clinical course of PH is best known for patients with COPD. Per studies in patients with COPD and other lung disorders, it is evident that the pathophysiology and treatment of these disorders is generally distinct from that of pulmonary arterial hypertensive disorders. Changes in the pulmonary vasculature that accompany elevations in pulmonary vascular pressure are generally referred to as pulmonary vascular remodeling. Chronic hypoxia is well known to cause pulmonary vascular remodeling and PH, and it is the major mechanism implicated for the development of PH in patients with lung disease. Other mediators have also been implicated in the pathogenesis of PH in animal models and patients with PH, including patients with pulmonary diseases. General features of pulmonary vascular remodeling are discussed with particular emphasis on those changes that have been described in patients with lung diseases. Recent discoveries in these areas are also reviewed, and findings in pulmonary arterial hypertensive diseases are contrasted with those found in patients with PH due to lung diseases. Some of these discoveries have already led to new treatment strategies for patients with the most severe forms of PH. PH due to lung diseases shares some common pathophysiologic features with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Therefore, it is likely that these discoveries and new treatments will also be extended to benefit patients with PH due to lung disease.

The effects of chronic episodic hypercapnic hypoxia on rat upper airway muscle contractile properties and fiber-type distribution

OBJECTIVE

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by episodes of upper airway (UA) obstruction due to an inability of UA muscles such as the geniohyoids and sternohyoids to maintain airway patency. This results in chronic episodic hypercapnic hypoxia. Chronic continuous hypoxia and episodic hypocapnic hypoxia affect skeletal muscle structure and function, but the effects of chronic episodic hypercapnic hypoxia on UA muscle structure and function are unknown.

DESIGN

Rats breathed air and hypercapnic hypoxic gas twice per minute for 8 h/d for 5 weeks in order to mimic the intermittent hypercapnic hypoxia of OSA in humans. Isometric contractile properties were determined using strips of isolated geniohyoid and sternohyoid muscles in physiologic saline solution at 30 degrees C. Fiber-type distribution was determined by adenosine triphosphatase staining.

RESULTS

For both muscles, chronic episodic hypercapnic hypoxia had no significant effect on twitch or tetanic tension, twitch/tetanic tension ratio, and tension-frequency relationship. There was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in geniohyoid fatigue (50.5 +/- 6.6% vs 43.6 +/- 5.8% of initial tension), but sternohyoid fatigue was reduced (31.5 +/- 5.2% vs 37.8 +/- 6.0% of initial tension). Geniohyoid type 1 fibers were reduced and type 2B fibers increased, whereas sternohyoid muscle had an increase in type 1 and 2A fibers and a decrease in type 2B fibers.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic episodic hypercapnic hypoxia alters UA muscle structure and function, changes that may affect the regulation of UA patency.

Chronic intermittent asphyxia impairs rat upper airway muscle responses to acute hypoxia and asphyxia

BACKGROUND

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a major clinical disorder that is characterized by multiple episodes of upper airway obstruction due to the failure of the upper airway dilator muscles to maintain upper airway patency. This results in chronic intermittent asphyxia (CIA) due to repetitive apneas, but very little is known about the effects of CIA on upper airway muscle function.

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that CIA affects upper airway muscle activity and electromyogram (EMG) responses to acute hypoxia and asphyxia.

DESIGN

Record upper airway EMG responses to acute hypoxia and asphyxia in control and CIA-treated rats.

SETTING

Department of Physiology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.

MEASUREMENTS

Sternohyoid (SH) muscle and diaphragm (DIA) muscle EMG activities were recorded in both groups during normoxia, hypoxia (7.5% O(2) in N(2)), and asphyxia (7.5% O(2) and 3% CO(2)) under pentobarbitone anesthesia.

RESULTS

Baseline SH EMG activity was significantly elevated in the CIA-treated rats compared to the controls, whereas DIA EMG activity was similar in the two groups. In addition, CIA significantly reduced SH EMG but not DIA EMG responses to acute hypoxia and asphyxia.

CONCLUSIONS

The elevated upper airway muscle activity associated with OSA in humans during wakefulness is due at least in part to CIA. We propose that a reduction in the response of upper airway dilator muscles to acute asphyxia following upper airway obstruction is likely to cause further asphyxic insult, leading to a vicious feed-forward cycle exacerbating the condition. Our results suggest that CIA contributes to the pathophysiology of sleep-disordered breathing.