Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis induces a significant reduction in local cerebral blood flow in the rat.
The effect of intravenous administration of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA, 30 mg/kg), a specific inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis, on local cerebral blood flow (lCBF) was examined in the rat using the [14C]iodoantipyrine autoradiographic method. L-NMMA induced a statistically significant reduction in lCBF in the cerebral cortices as well as in various deep structures of the brain. This reduction in lCBF was accompanied by a clear increase in mean arterial blood pressure, suggesting that the cerebral resistance vessels constricted significantly beyond the autoregulatory response following L-NMMA administration. These findings indicate that the basal cerebral circulation may be closely related to nitric oxide production.
Tanaka
K
K
Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan.
Gotoh
F
F
Gomi
S
S
Takashima
S
S
Mihara
B
B
Shirai
T
T
Nogawa
S
S
Nagata
E
E
D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001345:Autoradiography; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine
D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine