Functional role of nitric oxide in guinea pig tracheal epithelium.
Nitric oxide (NO) may play an important regulatory role in airway function. We have, thus, investigated in vitro whether epithelium derived NO may modulate cholinergic neurotransmission, via release of NO in guinea pig trachea, by using L-arginine (L-ARG), a precursor of NO synthesis, and L-N(G)-nitro-arginine-methyl-ester (L-NAME), an inhibitor of NO synthase. Results show that L-ARG and L-NAME modify acetylcholine sensitivity in epithelium-intact smooth muscle preparations, suggesting a probable NO synthesis by tracheal guinea pig epithelium.
Matera
M G
MG
Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, 2nd University of Naples, Italy.
D'agostino
B
B
Cardone
M
M
Calderaro
V
V
Rossi
F
F
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000502:physiology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D014132:Trachea / Q000502:physiology*
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000109:Acetylcholine; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester