Sandostatin inhibits development of medial proliferation of pulmonary arteries in a rat model of pulmonary hypertension.

We investigated the effects of subcutaneous administration of 50 and 100 micrograms/kg/day of sandostatin on monocrotaline-induced medial proliferation of pulmonary arteries and right ventricular overload in rats. In a dosage of 100 micrograms/kg/day, sandostatin significantly reduced right ventricular systolic pressure, the mass ratio of the right ventricular free wall to the left ventricle, the right ventricular wall thickness, the right ventricular myofiber diameter, the percent medial pulmonary artery thickness, the percent area of smooth muscle cell, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen activity. Our results suggest that sandostatin inhibits development of medial proliferation of pulmonary arteries and right ventricular overload in a dosage of 100 micrograms/kg/day.