title: Inhibition of NO synthesis has an additive effect on hypertension induced by ACTH in conscious rats.
abstract: 1. The haemodynamic and metabolic effects of oral intake of approximately 30 mg/kg per day N-nitro-L-arginine (NOLA) were examined in sham and adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH, 0.5 mg/kg per day) treated conscious Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 33). 2. NOLA administration produced an increase in systolic blood pressure of 24 +/- 6 mmHg (P < 0.001), but did not alter food or water intake, urine volume or electrolyte excretion in rats not treated with ACTH. 3. Compared with sham injection, ACTH-treated rats demonstrated an increase in systolic blood pressure (water + sham, 3 +/- 1 mmHg; water + ACTH, 16 +/- 3 mmHg; P < 0.001), loss of bodyweight, and increases in water intake and urine volume. 4. The magnitude of the blood pressure rise in ACTH-treated rats was greater in those receiving NOLA than in those drinking water only (water + ACTH, 16 +/- 3 mmHg; NOLA + ACTH, 37 +/- 3 mmHg; P < 0.05). Metabolic changes were similar. 5. Inhibition of nitric oxide is unlikely to be a major determinant of ACTH-induced hypertension in the rat, since NOLA increased blood pressure whether or not ACTH was administered, indicating an additive effect of ACTH and NOLA administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St George Hospital, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Dusting
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Whitworth
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D019335:Nitroarginine; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019335:Nitroarginine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D001120:Arginine