Nitric oxide synthase activity in adrenocorticotrophin-induced hypertension in the rat.
1. The nitric oxide (NO) system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various forms of experimental hypertension. We studied nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity as a possible indicator of NO production in adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH)-induced hypertension in the rat. 2. Haemodynamic, metabolic and biochemical parameters were examined in sham (saline)- and ACTH (100 microg/kg per day)-treated male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 20). 3. Adrenocorticotrophin treatment increased systolic blood pressure, serum corticosterone, adrenal NOS activity and adrenal nitrate and nitrite concentrations and decreased bodyweight and plasma nitrate/nitrite. 4. Previous observations of diminished NO production in ACTH- and corticosterone-induced hypertension in the rat were confirmed, but could not be explained by reduced NOS activity in the present study.
Turner
S W
SW
Department of Medicine, The St George Hospital, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Mangos
G J
GJ
Whitworth
J A
JA
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase