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B O Meyrick

Publications and source records attributed to B O Meyrick.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Cyclooxygenase inhibition during phorbol-induced granulocyte stimulation in awake sheep.

In vitro, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) causes sheep granulocytes to release superoxide. Infused into sheep, PMA causes leukopenia, hypoxemia, pulmonary hypertension, and increased flow of protein-rich lung lymph. Lung lymph thromboxane B2 and 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha levels rise markedly after PMA infusion. To see whether cyclooxygenase products of arachidonic acid mediate the lung vascular responses to PMA, we infused 5 micrograms/kg PMA twice in each of six sheep, once in the presence of sodium meclofenamate and once alone. We varied the order of paired experiments and allowed 4-7 days between experiments. Meclofenamate (5 mg/kg loading dose + 3 mg X kg-1 X h-1 infusion) given alone had no effect on base-line variables. Meclofenamate inhibited or delayed the initial pulmonary hypertension and hypoxemia after PMA but exaggerated the later increase in pulmonary arterial pressure; it prevented any increase in thromboxane B2 and 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha after PMA. Meclofenamate did not affect the degree of leukopenia or the severity of the later hypoxemia nor did it prevent accumulation of granulocytes in the lung. Lung lymph flow was higher with meclofenamate + PMA than with PMA alone, but lymph-to-plasma protein concentration ratio was lower, suggesting that the main effect of meclofenamate on lymph production after PMA was related to the degree of pulmonary hypertension. We conclude that the early increase in pulmonary arterial pressure caused by PMA is mediated by a cyclooxygenase product of arachidonic acid, possibly thromboxane A2, but the later pulmonary hypertension and the increase in pulmonary vascular permeability are not the result of cyclooxygenase products.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Modification of pulmonary responses to endotoxemia in awake sheep by steroidal and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents.

The effects of intravenous infusions of Escherichia coli endotoxin on white blood cell counts, hemodynamics, gas exchange, body temperature, and lung lymph flow were studied in chronically instrumented unanesthetized sheep. Six sheep received endotoxin (0.5 micrograms/kg) in the presence and absence of methylprednisolone treatment. Six sheep received the same dose of endotoxin with and without meclofenamate and methylprednisolone infusion. Endotoxemia caused an early increase in pulmonary artery pressure from 15.5 +/- 1.3 (mean +/- SEM) to 52.7 +/- 2.1 cmH2O (p less than 0.05), an initial phase of high flow of protein-poor lung lymph, an elevation in core body temperature, severe leukopenia, and an early increase in the alveolar to arterial oxygen difference (AaPO2) from 7.4 +/- 2.5 mmHg to 35.9 +/- 2.5 mmHg (p less than 0.05). From 2 to 5 h after endotoxin infusion, lung lymph flow averaged 4.8 times that of the baseline measurement, although lymph protein concentration relative to plasma was not different from the baseline measurement. Peripheral leukopenia and significantly increased AaPO2 (28.8 +/- 4.5 mmHg) persisted at 2 to 5 h. Methylprednisolone attenuated the early pulmonary artery hypertension (43.0 +/- 3.4 cmH2O), but did not inhibit the initial febrile response, severe leukopenia, or the early increase in AaPO2 (29.2 +/- 1.6 mmHg) in response to endotoxemia. Methylprednisolone did prevent the late phase increase in lung lymph flow, significantly attenuated the late phase leukopenia and hypoxemia (AaPO2, 13.3 +/- 5.9 mmHg), and attenuated accumulation of granulocytes in peripheral lung tissue throughout the endotoxin reaction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1984

The effect of a single infusion of zymosan-activated plasma on the pulmonary microcirculation of sheep. Structure-function relationships.

Activation of the complement cascade is one of the mechanisms through which endotoxin may cause acute lung damage. The structural and functional changes following infusion of complement-activated plasma are described. In five anesthetized open-chest sheep, the authors monitored pulmonary and systemic artery pressures for 1 hour before and for 4 hours following the start of zymosan-activated plasma (ZAP) infusion (2 ml/min over a 20-minute period). Cardiac output, blood gases, and the number of circulating white cells were also measured. In addition, we took lung biopsy tissue at baseline, 7.5, 15, 30, 60, 120, 180, and 240 minutes following the start of infusion. Lung lymph flow and protein concentration were also monitored in 2 sheep. Following ZAP infusion there was an early phase of leukopenia and marked pulmonary hypertension, followed by a phase characterized by a modest increase in the flow of protein-rich lung lymph. By light microscopy pulmonary sequestration of granulocytes was evident just 7.5 minutes following the start of ZAP infusion. Peripheral lung granulocytes increased threefold above control values by 7.5 minutes, increasing to sevenfold by 30 minutes. Electron-microscopic studies showed that some of the granulocytes were disrupted, and specific and azurophilic granules were seen in the lumen. By 15 minutes endothelial damage was apparent, and intravascular monocytes were surrounded by a proteinaceous coat. Edema accumulation and an infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lungs' connective tissue regions increased to 2 hours. From 2 hours, lung injury was less marked, and the number of peripheral lung granulocytes, fewer. Sequestration of granulocytes occurred with the onset of pulmonary hypertension and leukopenia, and was most marked when lung injury was most severe. Transient endothelial damage and edema preceded the physiologic changes interpreted as an increase in pulmonary vascular permeability. Although pulmonary sequestration of granulocytes was at least as great as that with endotoxemia, unlike endotoxemia, ZAP caused only transient endothelial injury and modest changes in vascular permeability.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Crotalaria-induced pulmonary hypertension. Uptake of 3H-thymidine by the cells of the pulmonary circulation and alveolar walls.

Feeding with Crotalaria spectabilis seeds induces structural changes in the pulmonary arterial circulation characteristic of pulmonary hypertension: increased medial and adventitial thickness, the appearance of muscle in smaller arteries than normal, and reduction in the number of peripheral arteries. By autoradiographic techniques, after injection of 3H-thymidine into rats fed Crotalaria for 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, or 35 days, the contribution of hyperplasia to these changes has been assessed at two levels of the pulmonary artery--the hilum and the periphery. In the hilar pulmonary artery, a biphasic increase in labeling index (LI) is seen in each cell type. After 3 days of feeding, the medial smooth muscle cells show a slight but significant increase (1.5 times the control value), and, after 7 days, so do the adventitial fibroblasts (3 x) and the endothelial cells (EC) (2 x). After 14 days LI for all three cell types is again at control values, but after 21 days (wall thickness is no increased) each cell type shows at least a fivefold increase; by 35 days all are again near control levels. In the intra-acinar region, by 14 days, "newly" muscularized arteries are identified and increase in number and proportion up to 35 days; 3H-thymidine uptake is not evident in this cell type until 35 days have passed. The ECs of these arteries, however, show a striking increase in LI after 14 days as do those of the alveolar capillaries. The ECs of the intra-acinar veins show a biphasic response being increased after 7, 28, and 35 days. The present study has shown that Crotalaria ingestion induces hyperplasia and hypertrophy of pulmonary arterial cells at pre- and intra-acinar levels. The early increase in LI probably represents a response to the original cell injury, the later changes, a response to continuing damage or, in part, adaptation to the pulmonary hypertension now present.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Optimization of cationic liposome-mediated gene transfer to human bronchial epithelial cells expressing wild-type or abnormal cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR).

We determined optimum conditions for delivering DNA to transformed human bronchial epithelial cells expressing wild-type (BEAS) or abnormal (2CF) cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) using cationic liposomes (Lipofectin, [N-(N,N-dimethylaminoethane)carbamyl] cholesterol[DC-Chol]/dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine[DOPE], or LipofectAMINE) and reporter genes which measured overall transgene expression (luciferase) or the fraction of cells transfected (heat-stable alkaline phosphatase). All liposomes showed dose-related toxicity. Optimal liposome and lipid: DNA ratios were different for BEAS than for 2CF cells. For all 3 liposome preparations, small particle size and net cationic charge related to transfection efficiency. Both LipofectAMINE and DC-Chol/DOPE transfected a maximum of 3% of BEAS cells, but luciferase expression could be increased without increasing the fraction of cells transfected. LipofectAMINE transfected a maximum of 6% of 2CF cells, and luciferase expression could be increased with no further increase in fraction of transfected cells. DC-Chol/DOPE transfected over 12% of 2CF cells with relatively small increases in luciferase expression. We conclude that an optimal cationic liposome and lipid: DNA ratio for transfecting bronchial epithelial cells depends on: (1) small particle size and net cationic charge, (2) whether the cells have the cystic fibrosis defect, and (3) whether the desired outcome is transfection of the maximum fraction of the cells or maximum total expression of the transgene.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Myoendothelial junctional complexes in postobstructive pulmonary vasculopathy: a quantitative electron microscopic study.

Postobstructive pulmonary vasculopathy (POPV), produced by chronic unilateral ligation of one pulmonary artery, is characterized by (1) marked proliferation of bronchial collateral vessels, (2) increased pulmonary vascular resistance, and (3) hyperreactivity of arteries to serotonin and of veins to histamine. Electron microscopic examination of the vessels in POPV suggested an increase in myoendothelial junctional complexes (MEJC). To quantitate this change, the number of MEJC in the vessel walls of the left lung was compared with that of the right lung in 16 dogs after ligation of the left main pulmonary artery for 8.4 +/- 1.6 (SE) months. The lungs were fixed by airway instillation of 3% glutaraldehyde. Electron micrographs were taken of pulmonary arteries, capillaries, and veins and of bronchial vessels, and their external diameter and length of endothelial basal lamina were measured. The MEJC were counted and expressed as number per length of basal lamina and typed: Type I consisted of endothelial processes, type II of smooth muscle or pericyte processes, and type III of processes from each cell type. The results demonstrated that the vasculature from the control lung had the smallest number of MEJC and the majority were type I. With ligation, there was a significant increase (p < .01) in the number of MEJC for each type of vessel examined, but no significant change in the distribution of the type. In addition, no correlation was found between the number of MEJC and vascular diameter. It can be concluded that MEJC are increased in each region of the lung's vasculature in POPV and that they may play a role in the proliferative response of the bronchial vasculature, the remodeling of the pulmonary vasculature, and the pulmonary vascular hyperreactivity of this model.

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