title: Activation of sympathoadrenomedullary system increases pulmonary nitric oxide production in the rabbit.
abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) is continuously produced in the lung and can be measured in exhaled gas of different species. To investigate a possible neuro-humoral regulation of pulmonary NO production in vivo we injected veratrine, an activator of Na(+) channels known to activate the sympathoadrenal system, in anaesthetized, mechanically ventilated and laparotomized rabbits. Exhaled NO concentration increased by 38+/-3% when plasma adrenaline rose from 12.3+/-3.1 to 49.5+/-10.7 pmol ml(-1) in response to veratrine (500 microg kg(-1), i.v.). Pretreatment with atenolol, a beta(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist (1 mg kg(-1)), or bilateral ligation of adrenal blood vessels inhibited the increase in exhaled NO in response to veratrine. Atenolol also decreased basal NO, suggesting an endogenous regulation of pulmonary NO by adrenaline. Neither phentolamine (1 mg kg(-1)), atropine (1 mg kg(-1)) nor vagotomy inhibited the veratrine-induced pulmonary NO production. These results suggest a role of the sympathoadrenal system in the regulation of pulmonary NO production.
authors.affiliation: Division of Physiology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. christofer.adding@fyfa.ki.se
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Adding
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Agvald
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Artlich
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
mesh_terms: D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology*; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001262:Atenolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011661:Pulmonary Stretch Receptors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D013566:Sympathomimetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D014702:Veratrine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D002395:Catecholamines; D013566:Sympathomimetics; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001262:Atenolol; D014702:Veratrine; D004837:Epinephrine