Effect of tetrandrine on pulmonary hypertension induced by monocrotaline in rats]

The effects of Tetrandrine (Tet) on intraacinous pulmonary arteries (IAPA) and bemodynamics were studied by means of a rat pulmonary hypertension model induced by monocrotaline. The results showed that Tet could reduce the contractive pressure of pulmonary artery, right ventricle and right atrium of heart by 28.0%, 28.3%, and 31.5% respectively. It could also decrease the vascular degeneration of endoepithelial cells of IAPA, the endoepithelial subcavity, the collagens of medial membrane and the numbers of smooth muscles of IAPA.