Effect of chronic vanadate administration on pulmonary circulation in the rat.

The effect of prolonged dietary vanadate administration on pulmonary hemodynamics was investigated. Rats treated with vanadate for 2 months developed pulmonary hypertension, as indicated by significantly (p less than 0.001) higher mean and systolic right ventricular pressure. Cardiac output was not affected by vanadate administration, while the calculated pulmonary vascular resistance was found to be significantly (p less than 0.05) higher in rats treated with vanadium. Right ventricular hypertrophy was also noted in vanadium-treated animals. Vanadium treatment did not significantly affect systemic circulation. The results indicate that vanadium administration induces pulmonary hypertension.