title: The role of nitric oxide in dilating the fetal ductus arteriosus in rats.
abstract: Prostaglandin E is a major dilator of the fetal ductus arteriosus (DA), but the role of nitric oxide in fetal ductal dilation has not been established. We studied the effects of a potent nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), on the fetal DA in rats. L-NAME was injected into the dorsum of pregnant rats, and fetal DA was studied 4 h later with a rapid whole body freezing method. The inner diameters of the DA and the main pulmonary artery were measured on a freezing microtome. The inner diameter ratio of DA to main pulmonary artery (DA/PA) was 1.02+/-0.03 (mean +/- SEM; number of fetuses [n], 21) in normal near-term fetuses. The effect of prostaglandin synthesis inhibition was studied after orogastric administration of indomethacin to pregnant rats. In near-term rats on the 21st day of gestation (term, 21.5 d), a large dose of L-NAME (100 mg/kg) caused only mild ductal constriction, with DA/PA reduced to 0.83+/-0.05 (n = 20). Indomethacin (1 mg/kg) caused moderate ductal constriction, and DA/PA was decreased to 0.65+/-0.05 (n = 21). Combined administration of L-NAME (10 mg/kg) and indomethacin (1 mg/kg) caused severe ductal constriction, with DA/PA of 0.26+/-0.03 (n = 16). In preterm rats on the 19th day of gestation, a moderate dose of L-NAME (10 mg/kg) caused severe ductal constriction, with a DA/PA of 0.32+/-0.05 (n = 24). Indomethacin (1 mg/kg) alone caused only mild ductal constriction, with DA/PA 0.86+/-0.02 (n = 16). In conclusion, prostaglandin has a major role and nitric oxide has a minor role in dilating the DA in the near-term fetal rat. In contrast, nitric oxide has a major role and prostaglandin has a minor role in dilating the DA in preterm fetal rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, The Heart Institute of Japan, Tokyo Women's Medical University.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Momma
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toyono
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004373:Ductus Arteriosus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011247:Pregnancy; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D011458:Prostaglandins E; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester