title: Effect of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester on functionally characterized muscarinic receptors in anesthetized cats.
abstract: This study was undertaken to determine if the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), is a competitive antagonist of muscarinic receptors in vivo. Cats were anesthetized with pentobarbital (36 mg/kg, i.p.). Five peripheral muscarinic responses were characterized based on their sensitivity to intravenous administration of atropine (1-100 microg/kg), pirenzepine (1-100 microg/kg) or gallamine (30-3000 microg/kg) as follows: (1) muscarinic ganglionic transmission through the superior cervical ganglion to the nictitating membrane (M1), (2) electrically elicited vagal bradycardia (M2), (3) neurally evoked sudomotor responses (M3; non-endothelial), (4) basal pupil tone in sympathectomized cats (M3; non-endothelial) and (5) methacholine-induced depression of arterial blood pressure (M3; endothelial). Additional groups of animals were administered L-NAME (50 mg/kg, i.v.) to determine if this agent would alter activation of these muscarinic systems. L-NAME was devoid of effect on responses elicited by stimulation of muscarinic M1, M2 and M3 (non-endothelial) receptors. In contrast, L-NAME significantly reduced the depressor responses to i.v. methacholine (M3; endothelial), as did its non-alkyl ester congener, L-NA (NG-nitro-L-arginine; 25 mg/kg, i.v.). These results support the conclusion that although L-NAME inhibits synthesis of nitric oxide in vascular endothelial cells, it is not a generalized muscarinic receptor antagonist in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City 73190, USA.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Koss
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002415:Cats; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005703:Gallamine Triethiodide / Q000494:pharmacology; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D019335:Nitroarginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010890:Pirenzepine / Q000494:pharmacology; D043643:Receptor, Muscarinic M1; D043585:Receptor, Muscarinic M2; D043587:Receptor, Muscarinic M3; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D043643:Receptor, Muscarinic M1; D043585:Receptor, Muscarinic M2; D043587:Receptor, Muscarinic M3; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D019335:Nitroarginine; D010890:Pirenzepine; D001285:Atropine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D005703:Gallamine Triethiodide; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester