title: NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl-ester: a muscarinic receptor antagonist?
abstract: The effect of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) towards muscarinic receptors was studied in vitro and in vivo. L-NAME displaced the antimuscarinic ligand [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) from its specific binding sites in rat cerebral cortex and cerebellum homogenates with a more than 10,000 fold lower affinity than atropine, pirenzepine and AFDX 116. Data for L-NAME binding were best fit according to a two-site model (Kd 7.2 nM and 3,000 nM) in the rat cerebellum, whereas in rat cortex a one-site model (Kd 1670 nM) was superior. In anesthetized rats and rabbits L-NAME (7.5-185 mumol/kg) attenuated a hypotensive response to Acetyl beta-methyl-choline (Ac beta-Me Ch)(6.25 nmol/kg) in a dose related fashion, but this effect was negligible as compared to that of atropine (8.8 and 17.7 nmol/kg). Furthermore, the effect of L-NAME was not specifically antimuscarinic since its attenuating effect against ATP- or histamine-induced responses was not statistically different from that of Ac beta-Me Ch. A vagus stimulation induced bradycardia was entirely uninfluenced by L-NAME (37 mumol/kg). In isolated bladder experiments (rabbit) we demonstrated a complete lack of efficacy of L-NAME against Ac beta-Me Ch induced contractions. In the pithed rat preparation L-NAME was ineffective against the MeN-A-343 induced pressor responses. In summary, we demonstrated that the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME shows very weak affinity at M1- and M2-receptors in the rat brain in vitro, but appears to have no significant antimuscarinic properties against M1-, M2- and M3-receptor mediated effects in rats and rabbits in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine 90509, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hellmich
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gyermek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010890:Pirenzepine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D010890:Pirenzepine; D001285:Atropine; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester