The non specificity of specific nitric oxide synthase inhibitors.
L-NAME (Nw-Nitro-L-arginine methylester) and L-NMMA (NG- Monomethyl-L-arginine, monoacetate) are used widely as nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitors. Because of their functional groups (alcohols, amines and carboxylates), it appeared that they could interact with iron in a variety of systems. Using three in vitro models we observed these two compounds had inhibitory effects on cytochrome C reduction by ferrous iron, by ferrous iron accelerated by an unsaturated fatty acid or by epinephrine. This suggests that L-NAME and L-NMMA could have effects in iron containing systems found intracellularly apart from their inhibition of (NO) synthesis.
Peterson
D A
DA
Department of Medicine, VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN.
Peterson
D C
DC
Archer
S
S
Weir
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EK
D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003574:Cytochrome c Group / Q000378:metabolism; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine
D003574:Cytochrome c Group; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D004837:Epinephrine