[Effect of tetrandrine on intraacinar pulmonary arterial structural remodelling and pulmonary hypertension].

Rat's pulmonary hypertension was induced by a single subcutaneous injection of monocrotaline. The influences of tetrandrine (Tet) upon the structure of intraacinar pulmonary arteries (IAPA) was studied by light and electron microscopy. The results indicated that Tet reduced the thickness of IAPA medial membrane, the ratio of the thickness of IAPA medial membrane to the diameter of IAPA, the number of circular muscular artery and partially muscular artery about 16.4%, 30.5%, 24.3% and 16.4% respectively, and Tet increased the number of nonmuscular artery about 24.7%. It also decreased the degeneration of IAPA, collagen of medial membrane, prolife-ration and myoid differentiation of the pericyte, and it increased the number of IAPA. The authors discussed why Tet caused such changes.