Endothelin-1 causes sequential trapping of platelets and neutrophils in pulmonary microcirculation in rats

Pulmonary microcirculation was analyzed by transmission electron microscope to determine the morphological changes that are induced by endothelin-1 (ET-1) based on lung morphometry. Administration of ET-1 in the jugular vein causes vascular congestion and proliferation of type II epithelial cells in rat lung. Furthermore, ET-1 also increases pulmonary vascular permeability and neutrophil accumulation which leads to intravascular thrombus formation or endothelial cell injury.