Pulmonary hypertension After prolonged hypoxic exposure in mice with a congenital deficiency of Cyp2j

Cytochrome P450 epoxygenase-derived epoxyeicosatrienoic acids contribute to the regulation of pulmonary vascular tone and hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. We investigated whether the attenuated acute vasoconstrictor response to hypoxic exposure of Cyp2j^-/- mice would protect these mice against the pulmonary vascular remodeling and hypertension associated with prolonged exposure to hypoxia. Cyp2j^-/- and Cyp2j^+/+ male and female mice continuously breathed an inspired oxygen fraction of 0.21 (normoxia) or 0.10 (hypoxia) in a normobaric chamber for 6 weeks. We assessed hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations, right ventricular (RV) systolic pressure (RVSP), and transthoracic echocardiographic parameters (pulmonary acceleration time [PAT] and RV wall thickness). Pulmonary Cyp2c29, Cyp2c38, and sEH mRNA levels were measured in Cyp2j^-/- and Cyp2j^+/+ male mice. At baseline, Cyp2j^-/- and Cyp2j^+/+ mice had similar Hb levels and RVSP while breathing air. After 6 weeks of hypoxia, circulating Hb concentrations increased but did not differ between Cyp2j^-/- and Cyp2j^+/+ mice. Chronic hypoxia increased RVSP in Cyp2j^-/- and Cyp2j^+/+ mice of either gender. Exposure to chronic hypoxia decreased PAT and increased RV wall thickness in both genotypes and genders to a similar extent. Prolonged exposure to hypoxia produced similar levels of RV hypertrophy in both genotypes of either gender. Pulmonary Cyp2c29, Cyp2c38, and sEH mRNA levels did not differ between Cyp2j^-/- and Cyp2j^+/+ male mice after breathing at normoxia or hypoxia for 6 weeks. These results suggest that murine Cyp2j deficiency does not attenuate the development of murine pulmonary vascular remodeling and hypertension associated with prolonged exposure to hypoxia in mice of both genders.