Pulmonary hypertension produced in rats by ingestion of Crotalaria spectabilis seeds

Abstract

The oral administration of <i>Crotalaria spectabilis</i> seeds to young rats induces pulmonary hypertension in them associated with right ventricular hypertrophy and an increase in the medial thickness of the pulmonary trunk and muscular pulmonary arteries. This appears to be the first direct demonstration that the oral administration of an agent may bring about pulmonary hypertension.