Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of prostacyclin on apoptosis of pulmonary artery. Methods The pulmonary artery hypertension rats were induced by monocrotaline (MCT) intraperitoneal injection. In MCT and beraprosat group, each rat was only given an intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg of MCT. In control group, each rat was only given an intraperitoneal injection of equivalent volume saline. The rats in beraprosat group were given an intragastric administration of 200mg /kg of beraprosat daily from the second day. The hemodynamics, right ventricular hypertrophy, pulmonary artery remodeling, pulmonary artery apoptosis and the molecules involved in apoptosis of PAH were observed. Results In beraprosat group, rats were with lower hemodynamics and right ventricular hypertrophy than MCT group. Beraprosat significantly improved the pulmonary artery remodeling and increased the apoptosis in pulmonary artery. Beraprosat also increased the Bax, decreased the Bcl-2 and PDK in both mRNA and protein level.Conclusions Beraprosat can improve pulmonary artery remodeling by inducing the apoptosis of pulmonary artery.

Key words: Apoptosis, Pulmonary artery Hypertension, Beraprosat