title: L-canavanine selectively augments contraction in aortas from endotoxemic rats.
abstract: Contractile responses to KCl or phenylephrine were inhibited in endothelium-denuded aorta from endotoxin-treated rats. L-Canavanine, a selective inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase, augmented contractile responses in vessels from endotoxin, but not saline-pretreated animals. In contrast to nitroarginine, L-canavanine did not inhibit endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by acetylcholine. Selective inhibitors of inducible nitric oxide synthase may be useful probes of vascular dysfunction in sepsis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, IL 60637.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Umans
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Samsel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000378:metabolism*; D002172:Canavanine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D019335:Nitroarginine; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D019335:Nitroarginine; D002172:Canavanine; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D001120:Arginine