title: Nitric oxide synthesis inhibitors attenuate calcitonin gene-related peptide endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in rat aorta.
abstract: The effect of inhibitors of nitric oxide synthesis were examined on the endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by acetylcholine and human alpha-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on rat isolated aortic rings preconstricted with noradrenaline. The endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation induced by acetylcholine and CGRP was inhibited by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) and NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG) in a concentration-related fashion. The inhibition of endothelium-dependent relaxation by L-NMMA and L-NOARG was partially reversed by L-arginine but not by D-arginine for both acetylcholine and CGRP. The data presented suggests that CGRP, like acetylcholine; relaxes the rat aorta via the release of nitric oxide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, University College London, U.K.
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marshall
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019335:Nitroarginine; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine
chemical_list: D019335:Nitroarginine; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D000109:Acetylcholine; D007052:Ibuprofen; D009638:Norepinephrine