Disposition of biogenic amines and angiotensin I by lungs of spontaneously hypertensive rats

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Abstract
Isolated lungs of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were examined for their ability to modify concentrations of perfused norepinephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine or angiotensin I. Lungs from 4 or 14 wk old SHR removed significantly more perfused 0.1 .mu.M norepinephrine (NE) than lungs of normotensive controls (Wistar-Kyoto rats, WKY) the same age. For example, lungs of 14 wk old WKY removed 18.5 .+-. 1.8% of perfused NE in a single pass through the pulmonary vasculature; lungs from SHR removed 31.7 .+-. 1.0%. Lungs of 14 wk old SHR also produced more O-methylated NE metabolite than did lungs of WKY. Lungs of 14 wk old SHR removed slightly less perfused 5-hydroxytryptamine and produced less 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid metabolite than those of WKY. Monoamine oxidase activity, determined in 600 g supernatant fractions of lung homogenates, was the same in SHR and WKY. No difference in the ability of lungs of WKY and SHR to remove perfused angiotensin I was found either in animals 4 or 14 wk of age. Lung may contribute to differences in concentrations of circulating biogenic amines observed in SHR and WKY.