title: Evidence for the role of nitric oxide in the circulation of the dental pulp.
abstract: Many authors have studied the hemodynamics of the dental pulp; however, there are scarcely any data regarding the involvement of the L-arginine/nitric oxide pathway in the regulatory mechanism. Thus, we have examined the physiological effects of (1) NG-nitro-L-arginine as an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis and (2) the nitric oxide donor 3-morpholinosydnonimine on blood flow and vascular resistance in the canines of anesthetized cats to study the potential involvement of nitric oxide in the regulation of dental vascular homeostasis. Mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, blood gases, pH, cardiac output, and tissue blood flow were determined prior to and 15 min after i.v. administration of either NG-nitro-L-arginine (30 mg/kg, n = 9) or 3-morpholinosydnonimine (1 mg/kg, n = 7). Blood flow was measured by radioactive-labeled microspheres. There were no significant differences in baseline parameters between the two groups of cats. The dental pulp blood flow decreased to 53 +/- 13% (p < 0.01) of the control level after NG-nitro-L-arginine administration, while it decreased only slightly (to 82 +/- 12%) after 3-morpholinosydnonimine administration. The dental pulp's vascular resistance increased to 367 +/- 69% (p < 0.01) of the control level after NG-nitro-L-arginine, while it decreased to 73 +/- 10% (p < 0.05) of control after 3-morpholinosydnonimine. We found that the L-arginine/nitric oxide pathway plays an important role in the regulation of pulpal blood circulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lohinai
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Balla
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marczis
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Vass
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Kovách
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D002415:Cats; D003481:Cuspid; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000098:blood supply*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006706:Homeostasis; D008297:Male; D008981:Molsidomine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C002385:linsidomine; D001120:Arginine; D008981:Molsidomine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D010100:Oxygen; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester