Mechanical ventilation (MV) is a life-saving intervention, yet with prolonged MV (i.e., ≥6 h) there are time-dependent reductions in diaphragm blood flow and an impaired hyperemic response of unknown origin. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (4-8 mo, n = 118) were randomized into two groups; spontaneous breathing (SB) and 6-h (prolonged) MV. After MV or SB, vasodilation (flow-induced, endothelium-dependent and -independent agonists) and constriction (myogenic and α-adrenergic) responses were measured in first-order (1A) diaphragm resistance arterioles in vitro, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA expression was quantified. Following prolonged MV, there was a significant reduction in diaphragm arteriolar flow-induced (SB, 34.7 ± 3.8% vs. MV, 22.6 ± 2.0%; P ≤ 0.05), endothelium-dependent (via acetylcholine; SB, 64.3 ± 2.1% vs. MV, 36.4 ± 2.3%; P ≤ 0.05) and -independent (via sodium nitroprusside; SB, 65.0 ± 3.1% vs. MV, 46.0 ± 4.6%; P ≤ 0.05) vasodilation. Compared with SB, there was reduced eNOS mRNA expression (P ≤ 0.05). Prolonged MV diminished phenylephrine-induced vasoconstriction (SB, 37.3 ± 6.7% vs. MV, 19.0 ± 1.9%; P ≤ 0.05) but did not alter myogenic or passive pressure responses. The severe reductions in diaphragmatic blood flow at rest and during contractions, with prolonged MV, are associated with diaphragm vascular dysfunction which occurs through both endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent mechanisms.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Following prolonged mechanical ventilation, vascular alterations occur through both endothelium-dependent and -independent pathways. This is the first study, to our knowledge, demonstrating that diaphragm arteriolar dysfunction occurs consequent to prolonged mechanical ventilation and likely contributes to the severe reductions in diaphragmatic blood flow and weaning difficulties.
Keywords: arteriolar contractile dysfunction; blood flow; endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation; resistance vasculature.