Inhibition of Nitric Oxide Synthase Prevents Hyporesponsiveness to Inhaled Nitric Oxide in Lungs from Endotoxin-challenged Rats 

1999 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 215-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Holzmann ◽  
Claire Manktelow ◽  
Friedemann J. H. Taut ◽  
Kenneth D. Bloch ◽  
Warren Zapol

Background Inhalation of nitric oxide (NO) selectively dilates the pulmonary circulation and improves arterial oxygenation in patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In approximately 60% of patients with septic ARDS, minimal or no response to inhaled NO is observed. Because sepsis is associated with increased NO production by inducible NO synthase (NOS2), the authors investigated whether NOS inhibition alters NO responsiveness in rats exposed to gram-negative lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with 0.4 mg/kg Escherichia coli O111:B4 LPS with or without dexamethasone (inhibits NOS2 gene expression; 5 mg/kg), L-NAME (a nonselective NOS inhibitor; 7 mg/kg), or aminoguanidine (selective NOS2 inhibitor; 30 mg/kg). Sixteen hours after LPS treatment, lungs were isolated-perfused; a thromboxane-analog U46619 was added to increase pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) by 5 mmHg, and the pulmonary vasodilator response to inhaled NO was measured. Results Ventilation with 0.4, 4, and 40 ppm NO decreased the PAP less than in lungs of LPS-treated rats (0.75+/-0.25, 1.25+/-0.25, 1.75+/-0.25 mmHg) than in lungs of control rats (3+/-0.5, 4.25+/-0.25, 4.5+/-0.25 mmHg; P < 0.01). Dexamethasone treatment preserved pulmonary vascular responsiveness to NO in LPS-treated rats (3.75+/-0.25, 4.5+/-0.25, 4.5+/-0.5 mmHg, respectively; P < 0.01 vs. LPS, alone). Responsiveness to NO in LPS-challenged rats was also preserved by treatment with L-NAME (3.0+/-1.0, 4.0+/-1.0, 4.0+/-0.75 mmHg, respectively; P < 0.05 vs. LPS, alone) or aminoguanidine (1.75+/-0.25, 2.25+/-0.5, 2.75+/-0.5 mmHg, respectively; P < 0.05 vs. LPS, alone). In control rats, treatment with dexamethasone, L-NAME, and aminoguanidine had no effect on inhaled NO responsiveness. Conclusion These observations demonstrate that LPS-mediated increases in pulmonary NOS2 are involved in decreasing responsiveness to inhaled NO.

1995 ◽  
Vol 269 (4) ◽  
pp. R807-R813 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Hirai ◽  
T. I. Musch ◽  
D. A. Morgan ◽  
K. C. Kregel ◽  
D. E. Claassen ◽  
...  

Recent studies have suggested that the interaction between the sympathetic nervous system and nitric oxide (NO) or nitrosyl factors may be an important means by which arterial blood pressure is regulated. We investigated whether NO synthase (NOS) inhibition modulates basal sympathetic nerve discharge (SND) in baroreceptor-innervated and -denervated, chloralose-anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats. We recorded mean arterial pressure (MAP), renal SND, and lumbar SND before and after administration of the NOS inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 20 mg/kg iv). Two minutes after L-NAME administration in baroreceptor-innervated rats, MAP increased (+23 +/- 3 mmHg), whereas renal (-45 +/- 6%, n = 7) and lumbar (-35 +/- 2%, n = 6) SND significantly decreased from control levels. These changes persisted for up to 20 min after L-NAME administration. In baroreceptor-denervated rats, L-NAME increased MAP (+40 +/- 6 mmHg) and decreased lumbar SND (n = 7) (-37 +/- 10% from control at 20 min post-L-NAME). In contrast, renal SND progressively increased (+33 +/- 8% at 20 min post-L-NAME) from control after L-NAME administration in baroreceptor-denervated rats (n = 7). These results demonstrate that NOS inhibition can produce nonuniform changes in SND in baroreceptor-denervated rats and suggest that endogenous nitrosyl factors provide tonic excitation to lumbar SND, whereas they provide a tonic restraint to renal SND.


2005 ◽  
Vol 288 (1) ◽  
pp. H256-H262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Carolina Rodrigues Dias ◽  
Melissa Vitela ◽  
Eduardo Colombari ◽  
Steven W. Mifflin

The neuromodulatory effect of NO on glutamatergic transmission has been studied in several brain areas. Our previous single-cell studies suggested that NO facilitates glutamatergic transmission in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS). In this study, we examined the effect of the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) on glutamatergic and reflex transmission in the NTS. We measured mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) from Inactin-anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats. Bilateral microinjections of l-NAME (10 nmol/100 nl) into the NTS did not cause significant changes in basal MAP, HR, or RSNA. Unilateral microinjection of ( RS)-α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA, 1 pmol/100 nl) into the NTS decreased MAP and RSNA. Fifteen minutes after l-NAME microinjections, AMPA-evoked cardiovascular changes were significantly reduced. N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA, 0.5 pmol/100 nl) microinjection into the NTS decreased MAP, HR, and RSNA. NMDA-evoked falls in MAP, HR, and RSNA were significantly reduced 30 min after l-NAME. To examine baroreceptor and cardiopulmonary reflex function, l-NAME was microinjected at multiple sites within the rostro-caudal extent of the NTS. Baroreflex function was tested with phenylephrine (PE, 25 μg iv) before and after l-NAME. Five minutes after l-NAME the decrease in RSNA caused by PE was significantly reduced. To examine cardiopulmonary reflex function, phenylbiguanide (PBG, 8 μg/kg) was injected into the right atrium. PBG-evoked hypotension, bradycardia, and RSNA reduction were significantly attenuated 5 min after l-NAME. Our results indicate that inhibition of NOS within the NTS attenuates baro- and cardiopulmonary reflexes, suggesting that NO plays a physiologically significant neuromodulatory role in cardiovascular regulation.


2002 ◽  
Vol 283 (2) ◽  
pp. H658-H663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer C. Sullivan ◽  
Ararat D. Giulumian ◽  
David M. Pollock ◽  
Leslie C. Fuchs ◽  
Jennifer S. Pollock

Previously we have demonstrated functional nitric oxide synthase (NOS) 1 in large arteries. Because resistance arteries largely determine blood pressure, this study examined whether functional NOS 1 also exists in resistance arteries. Phenylephrine (PE) contraction was measured in the absence and presence of the NOS 1 inhibitor N 5-(1-imino-3-butenyl)-l-ornithine (VNIO) in isolated mesenteric resistance arteries (endothelium intact and denuded) from Sprague-Dawley rats. For NOS 1 activity and expression, the mesenteric arterial bed was separated into cytosolic and particulate fractions. NOS activity was assayed by measuring the conversion of [3H]arginine to [3H]citrulline inhibited by a nonselective NOS inhibitor or VNIO. VNIO increased PE sensitivity in endothelium-intact and -denuded arteries. In cytosolic and particulate fractions of the arterial bed, ∼40% of NOS activity was inhibited by VNIO. Immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis revealed two NOS 1 immunoreactive bands. One band corresponded to the rat brain isoform, whereas the second was of a slightly lower molecular mass. The cytosolic fraction contained both isoforms; however, the particulate fraction had only the lower molecular mass form. These studies demonstrate the existence of functional NOS 1 in resistance arteries.


2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (4) ◽  
pp. H1995-H2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zuo-Hui Shao ◽  
Wei-Tien Chang ◽  
Kim Chai Chan ◽  
Kim R. Wojcik ◽  
Chin-Wang Hsu ◽  
...  

Optimal timing of therapeutic hypothermia for cardiac ischemia is unknown. Our prior work suggests that ischemia with rapid reperfusion (I/R) in cardiomyocytes can be more damaging than prolonged ischemia alone. Also, these cardiomyocytes demonstrate protein kinase C (PKC) activation and nitric oxide (NO) signaling that confer protection against I/R injury. Thus we hypothesized that hypothermia will protect most using extended ischemia and early reperfusion cooling and is mediated via PKC and NO synthase (NOS). Chick cardiomyocytes were exposed to an established model of 1-h ischemia/3-h reperfusion, and the same field of initially contracting cells was monitored for viability and NO generation. Normothermic I/R resulted in 49.7 ± 3.4% cell death. Hypothermia induction to 25°C was most protective (14.3 ± 0.6% death, P < 0.001 vs. I/R control) when instituted during extended ischemia and early reperfusion, compared with induction after reperfusion (22.4 ± 2.9% death). Protection was completely lost if onset of cooling was delayed by 15 min of reperfusion (45.0 ± 8.2% death). Extended ischemia/early reperfusion cooling was associated with increased and sustained NO generation at reperfusion and decreased caspase-3 activation. The NOS inhibitor Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (200 μM) reversed these changes and abrogated hypothermia protection. In addition, the PKCε inhibitor myr-PKCε v1-2 (5 μM) also reversed NO production and hypothermia protection. In conclusion, therapeutic hypothermia initiated during extended ischemia/early reperfusion optimally protects cardiomyocytes from I/R injury. Such protection appears to be mediated by increased NO generation via activation of protein kinase Cε; nitric oxide synthase.


2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (6) ◽  
pp. F1606-F1613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Libor Kopkan ◽  
Md Abdul H. Khan ◽  
Agnieszka Lis ◽  
Mouhamed S. Awayda ◽  
Dewan S. A. Majid

Although hypercholesterolemia is implicated in the pathophysiology of many renal disorders as well as hypertension, its direct actions in the kidney are not yet clearly understood. In the present study, we evaluated renal responses to administration of cholesterol (8 μg·min−1·100 g body wt−1; bound by polyethylene glycol) into the renal artery of anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats. Total renal blood flow (RBF) was measured by a Transonic flow probe, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was determined by Inulin clearance. In control rats ( n = 8), cholesterol induced reductions of 10 ± 2% in RBF [baseline (b) 7.6 ± 0.3 μg·min−1·100 g−1], 17 ± 3% in urine flow (b, 10.6 ± 0.9 μg·min−1·100 g−1), 29 ± 3% in sodium excretion (b, 0.96 ± 0.05 μmol·min−1·100 g−1) and 24 ± 2% in nitrite/nitrate excretion (b, 0.22 ± 0.01 nmol·min−1·100 g−1) without an appreciable change in GFR (b, 0.87 ± 0.03 ml·min−1·100 g−1). These renal vasoconstrictor and anti-natriuretic responses to cholesterol were absent in rats pretreated with nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, nitro-l-arginine methylester (0.5 μg·min−1·100 g−1; n = 6). In rats pretreated with superoxide (O2−) scavenger tempol (50 μg·min−1·100 g−1; n = 6), the cholesterol-induced renal responses remained mostly unchanged, although there was a slight attenuation in anti-natriuretic response. This anti-natriuretic response to cholesterol was abolished in furosemide-pretreated rats (0.3 μg·min−1·100 g−1; n = 6) but remained unchanged in amiloride-pretreated rats (0.2 μg·min−1·100 g−1; n = 5), indicating that Na+/K+/2Cl− cotransport is the dominant mediator of this effect. These data demonstrate that cholesterol-induced acute renal vasoconstrictor and antinatriuretic responses are mediated by a decrease in NO production. These data also indicate that tubular effect of cholesterol on sodium reabsorption is mediated by the furosemide sensitive Na+/K+/2Cl− cotransporter.


Hypertension ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 68 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Peleli ◽  
Christa Zollbrecht ◽  
Marcelo Montenegro ◽  
Michael Hezel ◽  
Eddie Weitzberg ◽  
...  

Xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) is generally known as a source of superoxide production, but this enzyme has also been suggested to mediate NO production via reduction of inorganic nitrate (NO 3 - ) and nitrite(NO 2 - ). This pathway for NO generation is of particular importance during certain pathologies, whereas endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) is the primary source of vascular NO generation under normal physiological conditions. The exact interplay between the NOS and XOR-derived NO is not yet fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate if eNOS deficiency is partly compensated by XOR upregulation and sensitization of the NO 3 - - NO 2 - - NO pathway. NO 3 - and NO 2 - were similar between naïve eNOS KO and wildtype (wt) mice, but reduced upon chronic treatment with the non-selective NOS inhibitor L-NAME (wt: 25.0±5.2, eNOS KO: 39.2±6.4, L-NAME: 8.2±1.6 μ NO 3 - -, wt: 0.38±0.07, eNOS KO: 0.42±0.04, L-NAME: 0.12±0.02 μ NO 2 - ). XOR function was upregulated in eNOS KO compared with wt mice [(mRNA: wt 1±0.07, eNOS KO 1.38±0.17), (activity: wt 825±54, eNOS KO 1327±280 CLU/mg/min), (uric acid: wt 32.87±1.53, eNOS KO 43.23±3.54 μ)]. None of these markers of XOR activity was increased in nNOS KO and iNOS KO mice. Following acute dose of NO 3 - (10 mg/kg bw, i.p.), the increase of plasma NO 2 - was more pronounced in eNOS KO (+0.51±0.13 μ) compared with wt (+0.22±0.09 μ), and this augmented response in the eNOS KO was abolished by treatment with the highly selective XOR inhibitor febuxostat (FEB). Liver from eNOS KO had higher reducing capacity of NO 2 - to NO compared with wt, and this effect was attenuated by FEB (Δppb of NO: wt +8.7±4.2, eNOS KO +44.2±15.0, wt+FEB +22.2±9.6, eNOS KO+FEB +26.8±10.2). Treatment with FEB increased blood pressure in eNOS KO (ΔMAP:+10.2±5.6 mmHg), but had no effect in wt (ΔMAP:-0.6±3.3 mmHg). Supplementation with NO 3 - (10 mM, drinking water) reduced blood pressure in eNOS KO (ΔMAP: -6.3±2.2 mmHg), and this effect was abolished by FEB (ΔMAP: +1.1±1.9 mmHg). In conclusion, upregulated and altered XOR function in conditions with eNOS deficiency can facilitate the NO 3 - - NO 2 - - NO pathway and hence play a significant role in vascular NO homeostasis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 319 (2) ◽  
pp. F192-F201
Author(s):  
Lindsey A. Ramirez ◽  
Ellen E. Gillis ◽  
Jacqueline B. Musall ◽  
Riyaz Mohamed ◽  
Elizabeth Snyder ◽  
...  

We have previously shown that hypertensive female rats have more regulatory T cells (Tregs), which contribute more to blood pressure (BP) control in female versus male rats. Based on known protective properties of Tregs, the goal of the present study was to investigate the mechanisms by which female rats maintain Tregs. The present study was designed to 1) compare the impact of three hypertension models on the percentage of renal Tregs and 2) test the hypothesis that nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition prevents increases in renal Tregs and exacerbates renal damage in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats (11–14 wk old) were randomized to one of the following four groups: control, norepinephrine (NE) infusion, angiotensin II infusion, or the NOS inhibitor Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) in drinking water. BP was measured via tail cuff. After 2 wk of treatment, kidneys were isolated and processed to measure Tregs via flow cytometric analysis and renal injury via urinary albumin excretion, plasma creatinine, and histological analyses. Hypertensive treatments increased BP in all experimental animals. Increases in BP in norepinephrine-and angiotensin II-treated rats were associated with increases in renal Tregs versus control. In contrast, l-NAME treatment decreased Tregs compared with all groups. l-NAME treatment modestly increased albumin excretion. However, plasma creatinine was comparable among the groups, and there was no histological evidence of glomerular or tubular injury. This study provides insights into the mechanisms regulating renal Tregs and supports that an intact NOS system is crucial for female rats to have BP-related increases in renal Tregs.


1993 ◽  
Vol 178 (2) ◽  
pp. 749-754 ◽  
Author(s):  
N McCartney-Francis ◽  
J B Allen ◽  
D E Mizel ◽  
J E Albina ◽  
Q W Xie ◽  
...  

Nitric oxide (NO), a toxic radical gas produced during the metabolism of L-arginine by NO synthase (NOS), has been implicated as a mediator of immune and inflammatory responses. A single injection of streptococcal cell wall fragments (SCW) induces the accumulation of inflammatory cells within the synovial tissue and a cell-mediated immune response that leads destructive lesions. We show here that NO production is elevated in the inflamed joints of SCW-treated rats. Administration of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, an inhibitor of NOS, profoundly reduced the synovial inflammation and tissue damage as measured by an articular index and reflected in the histopathology. These studies implicate the NO pathway in the pathogenesis of an inflammatory arthritis and demonstrate the ability of a NOS inhibitor to modulate the disease.


Parasitology ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 118 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. FAVRE ◽  
B. RYFFEL ◽  
W. RUDIN

Nitric oxide (NO) production has been suggested to play a role as effector molecule in the control of the malarial infections. However, the roles of this molecule are debated. To assess whether blood-stage parasite killing is NO dependent, we investigated the course of blood-stage Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi (Pcc) infections in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-deficient mice. Parasitaemia, haematological alterations, and survival were not affected by the lack of iNOS. To exclude a role of NO produced by other NOS, controls included NO suppression by oral administration of aminoguanidine (AG), a NOS inhibitor. As in iNOS-deficient mice, no difference in the parasitaemia course, survival and haematological values was observed after AG treatment. Our results indicate that NO production is not required for protection against malaria in our murine experimental model. However, C57BL/6 mice treated with AG lost their resistance to Pcc infections, suggesting that the requirement for NO production for parasite killing in murine blood-stage malaria might be strain dependent.


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