The role of prostaglandins, nitric oxide and oxygen in the ductus arteriosi of the pre-term chicken embryo (Gallus domesticus).

• Main Author: Greyner, Henry José
• Other Authors: Dzialowski, Edward M. (Edward Michael)
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: University of North Texas 2007
• Subjects: prostaglandins; Ductus artieriosi; chicken embryos; smooth muscle contraction; oxygen; cardiovascular physiology; Ductus arteriosus.; Chickens > Embryos > Physiology.; Prostaglandins.; Nitric oxide.; Oxygen.
• Online Access: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc5173/

The chicken ductus arteriosi (DA) are two embryonic blood vessels that shunt blood away from the non-ventilated lungs and towards the body and chorioallantoic membrane. I show that prostaglandins have a diminished role in maintaining chicken DA patency and nitric oxide inhibits oxygen induced contraction of the day 19 proximal DA in a time dependent manner. The pathways governing oxygen induced contraction in the chicken DA are similar to those found in mammals and include contributions from ROS, Kv channels, L-type Ca2+ channels, and the Rho kinase pathway. Longer exposure to high oxygen generates increased oxygen induced constriction of the day 19 DA that may be mediated through the Rho kinase pathway.