title: N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester potentiates anaphylactic venoconstriction in rat perfused livers.
abstract: 1. The effects of the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on anaphylaxis-induced venoconstriction were examined in rat isolated livers perfused with blood-free solutions in order to clarify the role of NO in anaphylactic venoconstriction. 2. Rats were sensitized with ovalbumin (1 mg) and, 2 weeks later, livers were excised and perfused portally in a recirculating manner at a constant flow with Krebs'-Henseleit solution. The antigen (ovalbumin; 0.1 mg) was injected into the reservoir 10 min after pretreatment with L-NAME (100 micromol/L) or D-NAME (100 micromol/L) and changes in portal vein pressure (Ppv), hepatic vein pressure (Phv) and perfusate flow were monitored. In addition, concentrations of the stable metabolites of NO ( and ) were determined in the perfusate using an HPLC-Griess system. 3. The antigen caused hepatic venoconstriction, as evidenced by an increase in Ppv from a mean (SEM) baseline value of 7.7 +/- 0.1 cmH2O to a peak of 21.4 +/- 1.1 cmH2O at 3 min in D-NAME-pretreated livers. Pretreatment with L-NAME augmented anaphylactic venoconstriction, as reflected by a higher Ppv (27.4 +/- 0.8 cmH2O) after antigen than observed following D-NAME pretreatment. The addition of L-arginine, a precursor for the synthesis of NO, reversed the augmentation of anaphylactic venoconstricion by L-NAME. This suggests that hepatic anaphylaxis increased the production of NO, which consequently attenuated anaphylactic venoconstriction. However, perfusate NOx levels did not increase significantly after antigen in livers pretreated with either L-NAME or D-NAME. 4. In conclusion, L-NAME potentiates rat anaphylactic hepatic venoconstriction, suggesting that NO contributes to the attenuation of the venoconstriction. However, this functional evidence was not accompanied by corresponding changes in perfusate NOx concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Japan. shibamo@kanazawa-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Toshishige
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shibamoto
authors.forename: Takaharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishibashi
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimo
authors.forename: Sen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Hiromichi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takano
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsuchida
authors.forename: Matomo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishio
authors.forename: Yasutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kurata
mesh_terms: D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D010047:Ovalbumin; D001120:Arginine; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester