title: Inhibition of endothelium-derived relaxing factor-dependent circulatory control in intact rats.
abstract: The effects of the endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) inhibitors NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) and methylene blue (MB) on resting hemodynamics and responses to vasodilators were studied in the intact rat anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium. L-NMMA infusions (100 mg/kg) significantly increased mean blood pressure by 48%; this effect was rapidly reversed by L-arginine (300 mg/kg). MB (50 mg/kg) decreased mean blood pressure by 24%. Both MB and L-NMMA significantly attenuated the vasodepressor responses to acetylcholine, ATP, and adenosine. By use of radiolabeled microspheres, it was determined that the blood pressure increase after L-NMMA was due to a marked increase in systemic vascular resistance (SVR; from 1.3 +/- 0.1 to 3.1 +/- 0.3 mmHg.ml-1.min-1) and decreased cardiac output. L-NMMA increased vascular resistance in brain, cerebellum, skin, skeletal muscle, ear, white and brown fat, kidney, spleen, hepatic artery, and gastrointestinal tract. Flow decreased in the skin, kidneys, ear, white and brown fat, gastrointestinal tract, portal venous circulation, and liver in response to L-NMMA. In contrast, MB decreased heart rate, blood pressure, and SVR significantly. MB increased blood flow and decreased vascular resistance in several organs, including the brain, and skeletal muscle. These results indicate that both MB and L-NMMA can inhibit agonist-induced EDRF-mediated vasodepressor responses. However, inhibition of agonist-induced responses did not predict the general and regional hemodynamic responses to L-NMMA or MB infusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Loeb
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Longnecker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D001775:Blood Circulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D006439:Hemodynamics; D008297:Male; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012146:Rest; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D008751:Methylene Blue