scholarly journals Blockade of Nitric Oxide Synthesis Inhibits Hippocampal Hyperemia in Kainic Acid-Induced Seizures

1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 581-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Sophie Rigaud-Monnet ◽  
Elisabeth Pinard ◽  
Josiane Borredon ◽  
Jacques Seylaz

We investigated whether the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) affects the cerebrovascular changes occurring in seizures induced by kainic acid (KA) in awake, spontaneously breathing rats. Blood flow and tissue Po2 and Pco2 were continuously and simultaneously measured by mass spectrometry from a cannula chronically implanted into the dorsal hippocampus. l-NAME (20 mg/kg; n = 8) or saline (n = 9) was administered i.p. 30 min prior to i.p. KA (10 mg/kg) injection. l-NAME significantly decreased hippocampal blood flow and Po2 and increased mean arterial blood pressure (MABP). In l-NAME-treated rats, seizure activity occurred about 10 min sooner than in control rats, and status epilepticus was inevitably followed by a flat electroencephalogram and sudden death. In contrast, control rats survived KA-induced seizures. Hippocampal blood flow was significantly less elevated during the seizures in l-NAME-treated rats than in control rats (maximal levels, 170 and 450%, respectively, of baseline values), though MABP remained significantly higher. Hippocampal Po2 was significantly decreased at all times after KA injection in l-NAME-treated rats, whereas it remained at or above normoxic levels in control rats. The present results show that l-NAME markedly attenuates the hippocampal blood flow and tissue Po2 changes in response to enhanced metabolic activity due to limbic seizures and suggest that NO is of major importance in cerebral blood flow control during KA-induced seizures.

1996 ◽  
Vol 270 (5) ◽  
pp. H1696-H1703 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Mitchell ◽  
K. Tyml

Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to be a potent vasodilator released from endothelial cells (EC) in large blood vessels, but NO release has not been examined in the capillary bed. Because the capillary bed represents the largest source of EC, it may be the largest source of vascular NO. In the present study, we used intravital microscopy to examine the effect of the NO synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), on the microvasculature of the rat extensor digitorum longus muscle. L-NAME (30 mM) applied locally to a capillary (300 micron(s) from the feeding arteriole) reduced red blood cell (RBC) velocity [VRBC; control VRBC = 238 +/- 58 (SE) micron/s; delta VRBC = -76 +/- 8%] and RBC flux (4.4 +/- 0.7 to 2.8 +/- 0.7 RBC/s) significantly in the capillary, but did not change feeding arteriole diameter (Dcon = 6.3 +/- 0.7 micron, delta D = 5 +/- 7%) or draining venule diameter (Dcon = 10.1 +/- 0.6 micron, delta D = 4 +/- 2%). Because of the VRBC change, the flux reduction was equivalent to an increased local hemoconcentration from 1.8 to 5 RBCs per 100 micron capillary length. L-NAME also caused an increase in the number of adhering leukocytes in the venule from 0.29 to 1.43 cells/100 micron. L-NAME (30 mM) applied either to arterioles or to venules did not change capillary VRBC. Bradykinin (BK) locally applied to the capillary caused significant increases in VRBC (delta VRBC = 111 +/- 23%) and in arteriolar diameter (delta D = 40 +/- 5%). This BK response was blocked by capillary pretreatment with 30 mM L-NAME (delta VRBC = -4 +/- 27%; delta D = 5 +/- 9% after BK). We concluded that NO may be released from capillary EC both basally and in response to the vasodilator BK. We hypothesize that 1) low basal levels of NO affect capillary blood flow by modulating local hemoconcentration and leukocyte adhesion, and 2) higher levels of NO (stimulated by BK) may cause a remote vasodilation to increase microvascular blood flow.


1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naoaki Horinaka ◽  
Nicole Artz ◽  
Jane Jehle ◽  
Shinichi Takahashi ◽  
Charles Kennedy ◽  
...  

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) rises when the glucose supply to the brain is limited by hypoglycemia or glucose metabolism is inhibited by pharmacological doses of 2-deoxyglucose (DG). The present studies in unanesthetized rats with insulin-induced hypoglycemia show that the increases in CBF, measured with the [14C]iodoantipyrine method, are relatively small until arterial plasma glucose levels fall to 2.5 to 3.0 m M, at which point CBF rises sharply. A direct effect of insulin on CBF was excluded; insulin administered under euglycemic conditions maintained by glucose injections had no effects on CBF. Insulin administration raised plasma lactate levels and decreased plasma K+ and HCO3– concentrations and arterial pH. These could not, however, be related to the increased CBF because insulin under euglycemic conditions had similar effects without affecting CBF; furthermore, the inhibition of brain glucose metabolism with pharmacological doses (200 mg/kg intravenously) of DG increased CBF, just like insulin hypoglycemia, without altering plasma lactate and K+ levels and arterial blood gas tensions and pH. Nitric oxide also does not appear to mediate the increases in CBF. Chronic blockade of nitric oxide synthase activity by twice daily i.p. injections of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester for 4 days or acutely by a single i.v. injection raised arterial blood pressure and lowered CBF in normoglycemic, hypoglycemic, and DG-treated rats but did not significantly reduce the increases in CBF due to insulin-induced hypoglycemia (arterial plasma glucose levels, 2.5-3 m M) or pharmacological doses of deoxyglucose.


2005 ◽  
Vol 289 (6) ◽  
pp. F1324-F1332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manish M. Tiwari ◽  
Robert W. Brock ◽  
Judit K. Megyesi ◽  
Gur P. Kaushal ◽  
Philip R. Mayeux

Acute renal failure (ARF) is a frequent and serious complication of endotoxemia caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and contributes significantly to mortality. The present studies were undertaken to examine the roles of nitric oxide (NO) and caspase activation on renal peritubular blood flow and apoptosis in a murine model of LPS-induced ARF. Male C57BL/6 mice treated with LPS ( Escherichia coli) at a dose of 10 mg/kg developed ARF at 18 h. Renal failure was associated with a significant decrease in peritubular capillary perfusion. Vessels with no flow increased from 7 ± 3% in the saline group to 30 ± 4% in the LPS group ( P < 0.01). Both the inducible NO synthase inhibitor l- N6-1-iminoethyl-lysine (l-NIL) and the nonselective caspase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp fluoromethylketone (Z-VAD) prevented renal failure and reversed perfusion deficits. Renal failure was also associated with an increase in renal caspase-3 activity and an increase in renal apoptosis. Both l-NIL and Z-VAD prevented these changes. LPS caused an increase in NO production that was blocked by l-NIL but not by Z-VAD. Taken together, these data suggest NO-mediated activation of renal caspases and the resulting disruption in peritubular blood flow are an important mechanism of LPS-induced ARF.


2000 ◽  
Vol 88 (4) ◽  
pp. 1381-1389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan T. Demchenko ◽  
Albert E. Boso ◽  
Thomas J. O'Neill ◽  
Peter B. Bennett ◽  
Claude A. Piantadosi

We have tested the hypothesis that cerebral nitric oxide (NO) production is involved in hyperbaric O2 (HBO2) neurotoxicity. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and electroencephalogram (EEG) were measured in anesthetized rats during O2 exposure to 1, 3, 4, and 5 ATA with or without administration of the NO synthase inhibitor ( N ω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester), l-arginine, NO donors, or the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor inhibitor MK-801. After 30 min of O2 exposure at 3 and 4 ATA, rCBF decreased by 26–39% and by 37–43%, respectively, and was sustained for 75 min. At 5 ATA, rCBF decreased over 30 min in the substantia nigra by one-third but, thereafter, gradually returned to preexposure levels, preceding the onset of EEG spiking activity. Rats pretreated with N ω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester and exposed to HBO2 at 5 ATA maintained a low rCBF. MK-801 did not alter the cerebrovascular responses to HBO2at 5 ATA but prevented the EEG spikes. NO donors increased rCBF in control rats but were ineffective during HBO2 exposures. The data provide evidence that relative lack of NO activity contributes to decreased rCBF under HBO2, but, as exposure time is prolonged, NO production increases and augments rCBF in anticipation of neuronal excitation.


1993 ◽  
Vol 264 (2) ◽  
pp. H464-H469 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Breslow ◽  
J. R. Tobin ◽  
D. S. Bredt ◽  
C. D. Ferris ◽  
S. H. Snyder ◽  
...  

To determine whether nitric oxide (NO) is involved in adrenal medullary vasodilation during splanchnic nerve stimulation (NS)-induced catecholamine secretion, blood flow (Q) and secretory responses were measured in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs before and after administration of the NO synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). L-NAME (40 mg/kg iv over 5 min, followed by 40 mg.kg-1.h-1) reduced NO synthase activity of medullary and cortical homogenates from 5.2 +/- 0.3 to 0.7 +/- 0.1 pmol.min-1.mg protein-1 and from 1.2 +/- 0.2 pmol.min-1.mg protein-1 to undetectable levels, respectively. L-NAME reduced resting medullary and cortical Q by 42 and 60%, respectively. NS before L-NAME increased medullary Q from 181 +/- 16 to 937 +/- 159 ml.min-1.100 g-1 and epinephrine secretion from 1.9 +/- 0.8 to 781 +/- 331 ng/min. NS after L-NAME had no effect on medullary Q (103 +/- 14 vs. 188 +/- 34 ml.min-1.100 g-1), while epinephrine secretion increased to the same extent as in control animals (1.9 +/- 0.7 vs. 576 +/- 250 ng/min). L-NAME also unmasked NS-induced cortical vasoconstriction; cortical Q decreased from 96 +/- 8 to 50 +/- 5 ml.min-1.100 g-1. Administration of hexamethonium (30 mg/kg iv), a nicotinic receptor antagonist, reduced NS-induced epinephrine secretion by 90%. These data suggest independent neural control of medullary Q and catecholamine secretion, the former by NO and the latter by acetylcholine.


1998 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 475-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manfred Blobner ◽  
Ralph Bogdanski ◽  
Eberhard Kochs ◽  
Julia Henke ◽  
Alexander Findeis ◽  
...  

Background Intraabdominally insufflated carbon dioxide (CO2) during laparoscopy may have a specific effect on splanchnic circulation that may be unrelated to the effects of increased intraabdominal pressure alone. Therefore, the influences of insufflation with CO2 versus air on splanchnic circulation were compared. Methods Pigs were chronically instrumented for continuous recording of mesenteric artery, portal venous, inferior vena cava, and pulmonary arterial blood flow and portal venous pressure. After induction of anesthesia, CO2 or air was insufflated in 14 and 10 pigs, respectively. With the pigs in the supine position, intraabdominal pressure was increased in steps of 4 mmHg up to 24 mmHg by graded gas insufflation. Results During air insufflation, mesenteric artery vascular resistance was unchanged, whereas mesenteric arterial blood flow decreased with increasing intraabdominal pressure. Shortly after CO2 insufflation to an intraabdominal pressure of 4 mmHg, mean arterial pressure, mesenteric arterial blood flow, and mesenteric arterial vascular resistance were increased by 21%, 12% and 9%, respectively. Subsequently, with the onset of CO2 resorption in the third minute, mean arterial pressure declined to baseline values and mesenteric arterial vascular resistance declined to 85% of baseline values, whereas mesenteric arterial blood flow continued to increase to a maximum of 24% higher than baseline values. At steady-state conditions during CO2 insufflation, mesenteric arterial blood flow was increased up to an intraabdominal pressure 16 mmHg but decreased at higher intraabdominal pressures. Conclusions In contrast to air insufflation, intraabdominal insufflation of CO2 resulted in a moderate splanchnic hyperemia at an intraabdominal pressure &lt; or = 12 mmHg. At higher intraabdominal pressure values, pressure-induced changes became more important than the type of gas used.


2001 ◽  
Vol 281 (2) ◽  
pp. H975-H980 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Xu ◽  
Gregory D. Fink ◽  
Alex Chen ◽  
Stephanie Watts ◽  
James J. Galligan

The role of the sympathetic nervous system in 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl piperidinoxyl (tempol)-induced cardiovascular responses in urethane-anesthetized, normotensive rats was evaluated. Tempol caused dose-dependent (30–300 μmol/kg iv) decreases in renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR). Similar responses were obtained after sinoaortic denervation and cervical vagotomy. These responses were not blocked following treatment with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N G-nitro-l-arginine (2.6 mg · kg−1 · min−1 iv for 5 min) or the α2-adrenergic receptor antagonist idazoxan (0.3 mg/kg iv bolus). Idazoxan blocked the effects of clonidine (10 μg/kg iv) on HR, MAP, and RSNA. Hexamethonium (30 mg/kg iv) inhibited RSNA, and tempol did not decrease RSNA after hexamethonium. The effects of tempol on HR and MAP were reduced by hexamethonium. In conclusion, depressor responses caused by tempol are mediated, partly, by sympathoinhibition in urethane-anesthetized, normotensive rats. Nitric oxide does not contribute to this response, and the sympathoinhibitory effect of tempol is not mediated via α2-adrenergic receptors. Finally, tempol directly decreases HR, which may contribute to the MAP decrease.


1994 ◽  
Vol 267 (4) ◽  
pp. F606-F611 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Thorup ◽  
A. E. Persson

This study was designed to compare the effects of systemic and intratubular infusions of the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) on the tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) mechanism in anesthetized rats. We recently showed that intravenous infusion of L-NNA led to increases in mean arterial blood pressure (Pa), proximal tubular stop-flow pressure (Psf), and enhanced TGF sensitivity and reactivity. To avoid major systemic effects, in this study TGF was studied after intratubular NO inhibition. Intratubular infusion of L-NNA (10(-3) M) yielded similar results as shown with intravenous infusion, without systemic effects. TGF sensitivity and reactivity were increased, indicated by decreased turning point (TP) from 19.8 +/- 1.0 to 15.2 +/- 0.7 nl/min and increased delta Psf from 10.0 +/- 0.8 to 23.9 +/- 1.9 mmHg (24.3 vs. 59.1%). L-NNA at a concentration of 10(-4) M showed significant changes in both TP (from 20.9 +/- 1.1 to 17.8 +/- 1.0 nl/min) and delta Psf (from 7.6 +/- 0.6 to 13.9 +/- 0.7 mmHg), whereas 10(-5) M only increased delta Psf (9.7 +/- 1.0 vs. 12.1 +/- 1.1 mmHg). However, at low tubular perfusion rates Psf was not influenced by L-NNA. The early proximal flow rate (EPFR) showed no change at low tubular perfusion rates with L-NNA. At maximal TGF activation (40 nl/min), delta EPFR was increased from 34% in control to 62%. Our results suggest that NO not only regulates glomerular capillary pressure but also decreases the sensitivity of the TGF mechanism.


1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 865-871 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Sharkey

In the present study, we describe the effects of perivascular microapplication of the potent vasoconstrictor peptide endothelin-1 (Et-1; (120 pmol in 3 μl), delivered via a guide cannula stereotaxically positioned above the left cerebral artery (MCA) of the conscious male Sprague–Dawley rat. Ten minutes after the administration of Et-1, mean arterial blood pressure had increased by 20% and profound reductions in local cerebral blood flow (up to 93%) were observed within those brain areas supplied by the MCA. In addition, significant increases in local cerebral blood flow were observed within the globus pallidus (100%), substantia nigra pars reticulata (48%), ventrolateral thalamus (65%), and dorsal hippocampus (74%) ipsilateral to the insult. Twenty-four hours following the insult, the pattern of ischaemic damage was similar to that reported previously following permanent occlusion of the rat MCA. It is suggested that perivascular microapplication of Et-1 may provide a useful model for the study of the functional disturbances associated with focal cerebral ischaemia in the conscious rat.


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