title: L-arginine causes whereas L-argininosuccinic acid inhibits endothelium-dependent vascular smooth muscle relaxation.
abstract: This study examined the actions of L-arginine, a putative precursor of endothelium-derived nitric oxide, and arginine analogs on endothelium-dependent relaxation of isolated rings of bovine pulmonary artery. L-Arginine did not consistently relax arterial rings unless rings were first rendered refractory to endothelium-dependent relaxation by pretreatment with 1 microM A23187 for 45 min. L-Arginine-elicited relaxation was endothelium-dependent, antagonized by oxyhemoglobin or methylene blue, and unaffected by indomethacin. L-Argininosuccinic acid caused endothelium-dependent contractions and irreversible inhibition of endothelium-dependent but not nitroglycerin-elicited relaxation, which was not overcome by addition of L-arginine. Inhibition of endothelium-dependent relaxation by L-NG-monomethyl arginine, however, was reversible and overcome by L-arginine. Therefore, endothelium-dependent relaxants may cause arginine depletion in endothelial cells and endogenous argininosuccinic acid may modulate the biosynthesis of endothelium-derived nitric oxide from arginine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, UCLA School of Medicine 90024.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Buga
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Byrns
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Ignarro
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001125:Argininosuccinic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002417:Cattle; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001125:Argininosuccinic Acid; D000001:Calcimycin; D001120:Arginine; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D000109:Acetylcholine