The morphological changes in the pulmonary resistive vessels in the development of high-altitude pulmonary arterial hypertension
Kadyraliev, T.K.
Arkhiv Patologii 52(2): 36-40
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-1955 PMID: 2141252 Document Number: 354696
The structural alterations of pulmonary resistance vessels in rabbits during short-term adaptation to the high altitude were studied. As an example of ecological adaptation the structural alterations of pulmonary vessels in yaks living at altitudes above 3000 m were analyzed. Considerable structural alterations of endotheliocytes and blood cells were found that promote the appearance and development of high-altitude pulmonary hypertension. In yaks the adaptive alterations of pulmonary resistance vessels take place in the process of evolution. These alterations ensure, first, low resistance of pulmonary vessels when the volume of the vessel bed increases and, second, high functional activity of endotheliocytes. The changes are considered as a structural basis of ecological adaptation of pulmonary vessels providing a new level of homeostasis in pulmonary circulation.