title: Modulation of cerebral arterial tone by endothelium-derived relaxing factor.
abstract: This study was designed to further elucidate the role of the endothelium in regulation of cerebral vascular smooth muscle tone. Dose-dependent vasoconstrictive effects of serotonin (5-HT) were examined in endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded ring segments prepared from canine basilar and middle cerebral arteries. Some preparations were pretreated with 10(-5) M N omega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), an agent that inhibits the production of L-arginine-derived nitric oxide, one of the compounds proposed to be endothelium-derived relaxing factor. L-NNA alone elicited marked dose-dependent increases in tension in endothelium-intact preparations; a significantly smaller response was seen in endothelium-denuded preparations. The effects of L-NNA on endothelium-intact preparations were partially reversed by washing and treatment with L-arginine. The maximum tension induced by 5-HT was approximately doubled by removal of the endothelium as well as by L-NNA treatment of endothelium-intact preparations; a slight increase in maximum tension occurred in endothelium-denuded preparations treated with L-NNA. The concentration of 5-HT producing half-maximal contraction (ED50) was not affected by L-NNA. These data suggest that L-arginine-derived nitric oxide modulates canine cerebral arterial tone in both the resting state and during contraction with 5-HT.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock 72205.
authors: J E
authors: JE
authors: Brian
authors: R H
authors: RH
authors: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004285:Dogs; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019335:Nitroarginine; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D019335:Nitroarginine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D012701:Serotonin; D001120:Arginine