title: Effect of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine on arcade arterioles of rat spinotrapezius muscles.
abstract: The effect of the specific inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) formation NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) on resting arteriolar diameter and on actions of both endothelium-dependent and -independent vasoactive substances was investigated using intravital microscopy in rats. The spinotrapezius muscle of anaesthetized normotensive rats was suspended in a Krebs-Henseleit bath containing tetrodotoxin (3 x 10(-7) M), indomethacin (2.8 x 10(-5) M), and propranolol (10(-6) M) to block sympathetic nerve conduction, prostacyclin formation, and beta-adrenergic receptors, respectively. Acetylcholine (ACh), nitroprusside (NP), norepinephrine (NE), phenylephrine (PE), and guanabenz (GB) were topically applied before and after superfusion of L-NMMA (10(-5) to 10(-4) M). Superfusion of L-NMMA reduced arteriolar diameter and caused dose-dependent increases in arteriolar tone. The onset of action of L-NMMA was nearly immediate. L-NMMA inhibited vasodilator responses to the endothelium-dependent vasodilator ACh but not to the endothelium-independent NP. NE induced dose-related vasoconstriction that was significantly potentiated by L-NMMA. These effects were partially reversed by addition of L-arginine (10(-3) M). Potentiation of vasoconstriction elicited by NE was still observed after inhibition of alpha 1-adrenoceptors with prazosin, but potentiation was abolished by the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine. L-NMMA potentiated arteriolar vasoconstriction elicited by the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor agonist GB but not by the alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist PE. These findings with L-NMMA suggest that resting diameter of arterioles is modulated by endogenous NO biosynthesis and that endothelium-dependent vasodilators act through the formation of endogenous NO to exert their action in vivo.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk 23501.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Prewitt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001160:Arterioles / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000098:blood supply*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012146:Rest; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine
chemical_list: D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine; D001120:Arginine