title: Effects of nitric oxide synthase inhibition on sympathetically-mediated tachycardia.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to determine whether inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis directly alters the tachycardia produced by sympathetically-derived norepinephrine. The NO synthase inhibitor, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 50 micromol/kg, i.v.), produced a marked rise in mean arterial blood pressure. This pressor response was associated with a fall in heart rate which involved the withdrawal of cardiac sympathetic nerve activity. The NO-donor, sodium nitroprusside (5 microg/kg, i.v.), produced a pronounced fall in mean arterial blood pressure but only a minor increase in heart rate. The beta-adrenoceptor agonist, isoproterenol (0.5 micromol/kg, i.v.), and the membrane-permeable cAMP analogue, 8-(4-chlorophenylthiol)-cAMP (10 micromol/kg, i.v.), produced falls in mean arterial blood pressure and pronounced increases in heart rate. The indirectly acting sympathomimetic agent, tyramine (0.5 mg/kg, i.v.), produced a pressor response and a tachycardia. The effects of sodium nitroprusside, tyramine, isoproterenol and 8-(4-chlorophenylthiol)-cAMP on mean arterial blood pressure were not markedly affected by L-NAME. However, the tachycardia produced by these agents was considerably exaggerated in the presence of this NO synthesis inhibitor. These findings suggest that L-NAME potentiates the tachycardia produced by sympathetically-derived norepinephrine. The increased responsiveness to norepinephrine may involve (i) a rapid up-regulation of cardiac beta1-adrenoceptors and cAMP signaling in cardiac pacemaker cells due to the loss of the inhibitory influence of cardiac NO, and (ii) the up-regulation of beta1-adrenoceptor-mediated signal transduction processes in response to the L-NAME-induced withdrawal of cardiac sympathetic nerve activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, 52242-1109, USA.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Whalen
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia; D000818:Animals; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004357:Drug Synergism; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014439:Tyramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000502:physiology*