Cold-induced pulmonary hypertension in cattle.

The frequency with which cattle develop right-heart failure during the winter at high altitude suggested that cold might contribute to hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Indeed in a preliminary study conducted out-of-doors during early Spring, two calves with known hyperreactive pulmonary vessels showed elevated pulmonary arterial pressures attributed to their prior exposure to nighttime cold (-5 degrees C). In a second study five hyperreactive calves had increases in mean pulmonary arterial pressure from 29 to 45 Torr (+ 55%) during 48 h of exposure to cold (0 to -5 degrees C) in a climatic chamber. Three calves with less reactive lung vessels increased their pressures from 25 to 36 Torr (+ 44%). In a more complete study, six calves selected as potential hyperresponders showed increases in pulmonary arterial pressure (+ 60%), blood flow (+ 18%), and vascular resistance (+ 38%) during 48 h of cold exposure. Arterial PO2 decreased (-10 Torr) and PCO2 rose (+6 Torr) suggesting hypoventilation. Oxygen breathing returned pulmonary pressures and resistance to near control values, suggesting that cold had induced a hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction and an increased blood flow. Thus, a cold produced pulmonary hypertension in cattle at the modest altitude of 1,524 m and the pressor responses were greater in calves with more reactive lung vessels.