scholarly journals Nitric oxide production duringVibrio choleraeinfection

1997 ◽  
Vol 273 (5) ◽  
pp. G1160-G1167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward N. Janoff ◽  
Hiroshi Hayakawa ◽  
David N. Taylor ◽  
Claudine E. Fasching ◽  
Julie R. Kenner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Regional Blood Flow ◽  
Fluid Secretion ◽  
The United States ◽  
No Production ◽  
Loop Model ◽  
Ileal Loop

Vibrio cholerae induces massive intestinal fluid secretion that continues for the life of the stimulated epithelial cells. Enhanced regional blood flow and peristalsis are required to adapt to this obligatory intestinal secretory challenge. Nitric oxide (NO) is a multifunctional molecule that modulates blood flow and peristalsis and possesses both cytotoxic and antibacterial activity. We demonstrate that, compared with those in asymptomatic control subjects, levels of stable NO metabolites ([Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text]) are significantly increased in sera from acutely ill Peruvian patients with natural cholera infection as well as from symptomatic volunteers from the United States infected experimentally with V. cholerae. In a rabbit ileal loop model in vivo, cholera toxin (CT) elicited fluid secretion and dose-dependent increases in levels of[Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text]in the fluid ( P < 0.01). In contrast, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) elicited no such effects when applied to the intact mucosa. NO synthase (NOS) catalytic activity also increased in toxin-exposed tissues ( P< 0.05), predominantly in epithelial cells. The CT-induced NOS activity was Ca2+dependent and was not suppressed by dexamethasone. In conclusion, symptomatic V. cholerae infection induces NO production in humans. In the related animal model, CT, but not LPS, stimulated significant production of NO in association with increases in local Ca2+-dependent NOS activity in the tissues.

scholarly journals The Capsule Encoding the viaB Locus Reduces Interleukin-17 Expression and Mucosal Innate Responses in the Bovine Intestinal Mucosa during Infection with Salmonella enterica Serotype Typhi

2007 ◽  
Vol 75 (9) ◽  
pp. 4342-4350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuela Raffatellu ◽  
Renato L. Santos ◽  
Daniela Chessa ◽  
R. Paul Wilson ◽  
Sebastian E. Winter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
Intestinal Inflammation ◽  
Fluid Secretion ◽  
Interleukin 17 ◽  
Loop Model ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Ileal Loop ◽  
Chemokine Production

ABSTRACT The viaB locus contains genes for the biosynthesis and export of the Vi capsular antigen of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi. Wild-type serotype Typhi induces less CXC chemokine production in tissue culture models than does an isogenic viaB mutant. Here we investigated the in vivo relevance of these observations by determining whether the presence of the viaB region prevents inflammation in two animal models of gastroenteritis. Unlike S. enterica serotype Typhimurium, serotype Typhi or a serotype Typhi viaB mutant did not elicit marked inflammatory changes in the streptomycin-pretreated mouse model. In contrast, infection of bovine ligated ileal loops with a serotype Typhi viaB mutant resulted in more fluid accumulation and higher expression of the chemokine growth-related oncogene alpha (GROα) and interleukin-17 (IL-17) than did infection with the serotype Typhi wild type. There was a marked upregulation of IL-17 expression in both the bovine ligated ileal loop model and the streptomycin-pretreated mouse model, suggesting that this cytokine is an important component of the inflammatory response to infection with Salmonella serotypes. Introduction of the cloned viaB region into serotype Typhimurium resulted in a significant reduction of GROα and IL-17 expression and in reduced fluid secretion. Our data support the idea that the viaB region plays a role in reducing intestinal inflammation in vivo.

In vivo assessment of microvascular nitric oxide production and its relation with blood flow

2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (3) ◽  
pp. H1222-H1231 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. F. Figueroa ◽  
A. D. Martínez ◽  
D. R. González ◽  
P. I. Jara ◽  
S. Ayala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Plasma Flow ◽  
Subcellular Fractionation ◽  
No Synthase ◽  
Cheek Pouch ◽  
No Production ◽  
Hamster Cheek Pouch ◽  
Membrane Bound

To assess the hypothesis that microvascular nitric oxide (NO) is critical to maintain blood flow and solute exchange, we quantified NO production in the hamster cheek pouch in vivo, correlating it with vascular dynamics. Hamsters (100–120 g) were anesthetized and prepared for measurement of microvessel diameters by intravital microscopy, of plasma flow by isotopic sodium clearance, and of NO production by chemiluminescence. Analysis of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) location by immunocytochemistry and subcellular fractionation revealed that eNOS was present in arterioles and venules and was 67 ± 7% membrane bound. Basal NO release was 60.1 ± 5.1 pM/min ( n = 35), and plasma flow was 2.95 ± 0.27 μl/min ( n = 29). Local NO synthase inhibition with 30 μM N ω-nitro-l-arginine reduced NO production to 8.6 ± 2.6 pmol/min (−83 ± 5%, n = 9) and plasma flow to 1.95 ± 0.15 μl/min (−28 ± 12%, n = 17) within 30–45 min, in parallel with constriction of arterioles (9–14%) and venules (19–25%). The effects of N ω-nitro-l-arginine (10–30 μM) were proportional to basal microvascular conductance ( r = 0.7, P < 0.05) and fully prevented by 1 mM l-arginine. We conclude that in this tissue, NO production contributes to 35–50% of resting microvascular conductance and plasma-tissue exchange.

Sodium channels are required during in vivo sodium chloride hyperosmolarity to stimulate increase in intestinal endothelial nitric oxide production

2005 ◽  
Vol 288 (1) ◽  
pp. H89-H95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brett G. Zani ◽  
H. Glenn Bohlen
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Intestinal Blood Flow ◽  
No Production ◽  
Sodium Ions ◽  
Major Mechanism ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Endothelial Nitric Oxide

NaCl hyperosmolarity increases intestinal blood flow during food absorption due in large part to increased NO production. We hypothesized that in vivo, sodium ions enter endothelial cells during NaCl hyperosmolarity as the first step to stimulate an increase in intestinal endothelial NO production. Perivascular NO concentration ([NO]) and blood flow were determined in the in vivo rat intestinal microvasculature at rest and under hyperosmotic conditions, 330 and 380 mosM, respectively, before and after application of bumetanide (Na+-K+-2Cl− cotransporter inhibitor) or amiloride (Na+/H+ exchange channel inhibitor). Suppressing amiloride-sensitive Na+/H+ exchange channels diminished hypertonicity-linked increases in vascular [NO], whereas blockade of Na+-K+-2Cl− channels greatly suppressed increases in vascular [NO] and intestinal blood flow. In additional experiments we examined the effect of sodium ion entry into endothelial cells. We proposed that the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger extrudes Na+ in exchange for Ca2+, thereby leading to the calcium-dependent activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). We blocked the activity of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger during 360 mosM NaCl hyperosmolarity with KB-R7943; complete blockade of increased vascular [NO] and intestinal blood flow to hyperosmolarity occurred. These results indicate that during NaCl hyperosmolarity, sodium ions enter endothelial cells predominantly through Na+-K+-2Cl− channels. The Na+/Ca2+ exchanger then extrudes Na+ and increases endothelial Ca2+. The increase in endothelial Ca2+ causes an increase in eNOS activity, and the resultant increase in NO increases intestinal arteriolar diameter and blood flow during NaCl hyperosmolarity. This appears to be the major mechanism by which intestinal nutrient absorption is coupled to increased blood flow.

Intracoronary intermedin 1–47 augments cardiac perfusion and function in anesthetized pigs: role of calcitonin receptors and β-adrenoreceptor-mediated nitric oxide release

2009 ◽  
Vol 107 (4) ◽  
pp. 1037-1050 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Grossini ◽  
Claudio Molinari ◽  
David A. S. G. Mary ◽  
Francesca Uberti ◽  
Philippe Primo Caimmi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Cardiac Function ◽  
Coronary Blood Flow ◽  
No Synthase ◽  
Cardiac Response ◽  
No Production ◽  
Receptor Complexes ◽  
Arterial Blood

Systemic intermedin (IMD)1–47 administration has been reported to result in vasodilation and marked hypotension through calcitonin-related receptor complexes. However, its effects on the coronary circulation and the heart have not been examined in vivo. The present study was therefore planned to determine the primary in vivo effect of IMD1–47 on coronary blood flow and cardiac function and the involvement of the autonomic nervous system and nitric oxide (NO). In 35 anesthetized pigs, IMD1–47, infused into the left anterior descending coronary artery at doses of 87.2 pmol/min, at constant heart rate and arterial blood pressure, augmented coronary blood flow and cardiac function. These responses were graded in a further five pigs by increasing the infused dose of IMD1–47 between 0.81 and 204.1 pmol/min. In the 35 pigs, the blockade of cholinergic receptors (intravenous atropine, 5 pigs), α-adrenoceptors (intravenous phentolamine, 5 pigs), and β1-adrenoceptors (intravenous atenolol, 5 pigs) did not abolish the cardiac response to IMD1–47, the effects of which were prevented by blockade of β2-adrenoceptors (intravenous butoxamine, 5 pigs), NO synthase (intracoronary Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, 5 pigs), and calcitonin-related receptors (intracoronary CGRP8–37/AM22–52, 10 pigs). In porcine coronary endothelial cells, IMD1–47 induced the phosphorylation of endothelial NO synthase and NO production through cAMP signaling leading to ERK, Akt, and p38 activation, which was prevented by the inhibition of β2-adrenoceptors, calcitonin-related receptor complexes, and K+ channels. In conclusion, IMD1–47 primarily augmented coronary blood flow and cardiac function through the involvement of calcitonin-related receptor complexes and β2-adrenoreceptor-mediated NO release. The intracellular signaling involved cAMP-dependent activation of kinases and the opening of K+ channels.

scholarly journals Involvement of Nitric Oxide in Iodine Deficiency-Induced Microvascular Remodeling in the Thyroid Gland: Role of Nitric Oxide Synthase 3 and Ryanodine Receptors

Endocrinology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 156 (2) ◽  
pp. 707-720 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Craps ◽  
C. Wilvers ◽  
V. Joris ◽  
B. De Jongh ◽  
J. Vanderstraeten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Thyroid Gland ◽  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Iodine Deficiency ◽  
Ryanodine Receptors ◽  
No Production

Iodine deficiency (ID) induces microvascular changes in the thyroid gland via a TSH-independent reactive oxygen species-hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway. The involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in this pathway and the role of calcium (Ca2+) and of ryanodine receptors (RYRs) in NO synthase 3 (NOS3) activation were investigated in a murine model of goitrogenesis and in 3 in vitro models of ID, including primary cultures of human thyrocytes. ID activated NOS3 and the production of NO in thyrocytes in vitro and increased the thyroid blood flow in vivo. Using bevacizumab (a blocking antibody against VEGF-A) in mice, it appeared that NOS3 is activated upstream of VEGF-A. L-nitroarginine methyl ester (a NOS inhibitor) blocked the ID-induced increase in thyroid blood flow in vivo and NO production in vitro, as well as ID-induced VEGF-A mRNA and HIF-1α expression in vitro, whereas S-nitroso-acetyl-penicillamine (a NO donor) did the opposite. Ca2+ is involved in this pathway as intracellular Ca2+ flux increased after ID, and thapsigargin activated NOS3 and increased VEGF-A mRNA expression. Two of the 3 known mammalian RYR isoforms (RYR1 and RYR2) were shown to be expressed in thyrocytes. RYR inhibition using ryanodine at 10μM decreased ID-induced NOS3 activation, HIF-1α, and VEGF-A expression, whereas RYR activation with ryanodine at 1nM increased NOS3 activation and VEGF-A mRNA expression. In conclusion, during the early phase of TSH-independent ID-induced microvascular activation, ID sequentially activates RYRs and NOS3, thereby supporting ID-induced activation of the NO/HIF-1α/VEGF-A pathway in thyrocytes.

Nitric oxide mediation of chemoregulation but not autoregulation of cerebral blood flow in primates

1996 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Gregory Thompson ◽  
Ryszard M. Pluta ◽  
Mary E. Girton ◽  
Edward H. Oldfield
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Cerebral Blood Flow ◽  
No Production ◽  
Direct Role ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Continuous Release ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The authors sought to develop a model for assessing in vivo regulation of cerebral vasoregulation by nitric oxide (NO), originally described as endothelial-derived relaxing factor, and to use this model to establish the role of NO in the regulation of cerebral blood flow (CBF) in primates. By using regional intraarterial perfusion, the function of NO in cerebral vasoregulation was examined without producing confounding systemic physiological effects. Issues examined were: whether resting vasomotor tone requires NO; whether NO mediates vasodilation during chemoregulation and autoregulation of CBF; and whether there is a relationship between the degree of hypercapnia and hypotension and NO production. Twelve anesthetized (0.5% isoflurane) cynomolgus monkeys were monitored continuously for cortical CBF, PaCO2, and mean arterial pressure (MAP), which were systematically altered to provide control and experimental curves of chemoregulation (CBF vs. PaCO2) and autoregulation (CBF vs. MAP) during continuous intracarotid infusion of 1) saline and 2) an NO synthase inhibitor (NOSI), either l-n-monomethyl arginine or nitro l-arginine. During basal conditions (PaCO2 of 38–42 mm Hg) NOSI infusion of internal carotid artery (ICA) reduced cortical CBF from 62 (saline) to 53 ml/100 g/per minute (p < 0.01), although there was no effect on MAP. Increased CBF in response to hypercapnia was completely blocked by ICA NOSI. The difference in regional (r)CBF between ICA saline and NOSI infusion increased linearly with PaCO2 when PaCO2 was greater than 40 mm Hg, indicating a graded relationship of NO production, increasing PaCO2, and increasing CBF. Diminution of CBF with NOSI infusion was reversed by simultaneous ICA infusion of l-arginine, indicating a direct role of NO synthesis in the chemoregulation of CBF. Hypotension and hypertension were induced with trimethaphan camsylate (Arfonad) and phenylephrine at constant PaCO2 (40 ± 1 mm Hg). Autoregulation in response to changes in MAP from 50 to 140 mm Hg was unaffected by ICA infusion of NOSI. In primates, cerebral vascular tone is modulated in vivo by NO; continuous release of NO is necessary to maintain homeostatic cerebral vasodilation; vasodilation during chemoregulation of CBF is mediated directly by NO production; autoregulatory vasodilation with hypotension is not mediated by NO; and increasing PaCO2 induces increased NO production.

Contributions of endothelium-derived relaxing factors to control of hindlimb blood flow in the mouse in vivo

2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (2) ◽  
pp. H1072-H1082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharyn M. Fitzgerald ◽  
Homaira Bashari ◽  
Jessica A. Cox ◽  
Helena C. Parkington ◽  
Roger G. Evans
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Vascular Tone ◽  
Jugular Vein ◽  
Combined Treatment ◽  
Additional Treatment ◽  
Tonic Inhibition ◽  
No Production ◽  
Hyperemic Response

We determined the contributions of various endothelium-derived relaxing factors to control of basal vascular tone and endothelium-dependent vasodilation in the mouse hindlimb in vivo. Under anesthesia, catheters were placed in a carotid artery, jugular vein, and femoral artery (for local hindlimb circulation injections). Hindlimb blood flow (HBF) was measured by transit-time ultrasound flowmetry. Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME, 50 mg/kg plus 10 mg·kg−1·h−1), to block nitric oxide (NO) production, altered basal hemodynamics, increasing mean arterial pressure (30 ± 3%) and reducing HBF (−30 ± 12%). Basal hemodynamics were not significantly altered by indomethacin (10 mg·kg−1·h−1), charybdotoxin (ChTx, 3 × 10−8 mol/l), apamin (2.5 × 10−7 mol/l), or ChTx plus apamin (to block endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor; EDHF). Hyperemic responses to local injection of acetylcholine (2.4 μg/kg) were reproducible in vehicle-treated mice and were not significantly attenuated by l-NAME alone, indomethacin alone, l-NAME plus indomethacin with or without co-infusion of diethlyamine NONOate to restore resting NO levels, ChTx alone, or apamin alone. Hyperemic responses evoked by acetylcholine were reduced by 29 ± 11% after combined treatment with apamin plus charybdotoxin, and the remainder was virtually abolished by additional treatment with l-NAME but not indomethacin. None of the treatments altered the hyperemic response to sodium nitroprusside (5 μg/kg). We conclude that endothelium-dependent vasodilation in the mouse hindlimb in vivo is mediated by both NO and EDHF. EDHF can fully compensate for the loss of NO, but this cannot be explained by tonic inhibition of EDHF by NO. Control of basal vasodilator tone in the mouse hindlimb is dominated by NO.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Development Is Dependent on Blood Flow and Nitric Oxide Signaling

Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 728-728 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trista E. North ◽  
Wolfram Goessling ◽  
Marian Peeters ◽  
Pulin Li ◽  
Allegra M. Lord ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Stem Cells ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Physiological Mechanism ◽  
No Production ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Nitric Oxide Signaling ◽  
No Signaling ◽  
Increased Blood Flow

Abstract During vertebrate embryogenesis, definitive hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) arise in the aorta-gonads-mesonephros (AGM). Based on the functional conservation of AGM hematopoiesis from fish to man, an evolutionary advantage for the production of stem cells within the aorta must exist. The identification of the signals that induce HSCs at this developmental stage is of significant interest. Through a chemical genetic screen in zebrafish, a diverse group of compounds that regulate blood flow were found to affect the production of runx1/cmyb+ HSCs. These compounds represented modulators of the adrenergic and renin/angiotensin pathways, and Ca+, Na+ and nitric oxide (NO) signaling. In general, we determined that compounds which increased blood flow enhanced HSC number, whereas chemicals that decreased blood flow diminished runx1/cmyb expression. The conserved physiological mechanism of action of each compound on the vasculature was confirmed in vivo by confocal microscopy of transgenic fli1:GFP reporter fish. In the zebrafish, the step-wise initiation of heartbeat, establishment of vigorous circulation and onset of definitive hematopoiesis in the aorta-gonad-mesonephros region (AGM) suggests that blood flow may trigger HSC formation. silent heart (sih) embryos that lack a heartbeat and fail to establish blood circulation exhibit severely reduced numbers of runx1+ HSCs in the AGM. Blood flow modifying agents primarily exerted their effects after the onset of the heartbeat (>24 hpf), however, only compounds that increase NO production (L-Arginine, S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP)) could induce HSC formation prior to the initiation of circulation (5 somites to 22 hpf). Furthermore, SNAP rescued HSC production in sih mutant zebrafish, whereas other drugs that increased blood flow could not. Treatment with the NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor, N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), and morpholino-oligonucleotide (MO)-knockdown of nos1 (nnos/enos) blocked HSC development. Additionally, modulation of downstream components of the NO pathway affected HSC production in the zebrafish embryo. Together these data indicate that NO signaling is the downstream effector of blood flow on AGM HSC induction. To document that NO-mediated regulation of HSC formation was conserved across vertebrate species, we examined definitive HSC production in the murine AGM. Nos3 (eNos) was found to be expressed in the AGM endothelium and aortic hematopoietic clusters. Additionally, Nos3 expression specifically marks the population of HSCs with long-term adult bone marrow repopulating activity. Intrauterine NOS inhibition with L-NAME resulted in a lack of hematopoietic clusters in the AGM and a failure to generate transplantable hematopoietic progenitors. Our work provides a direct link between the initiation of circulation and the onset of AGM hematopoiesis, and identifies NO signaling as a conserved downstream regulator of HSC development. ^TEN and WG contributed equally to this work

Regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase by PGD2 in the developing choroid

2000 ◽  
Vol 278 (1) ◽  
pp. H60-H66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabelle Dumont ◽  
Pierre Hardy ◽  
Krishna G. Peri ◽  
Xin Hou ◽  
Stéphane Molotchnikoff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
No Production ◽  
Enos Expression ◽  
Choroidal Blood Flow ◽  
Nitrite Production ◽  
Enos Mrna ◽  
Oxide Synthase

We investigated if prostaglandins might regulate the increased choroidal endothelial (e) nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression in the perinate. Prostaglandins, eNOS mRNA, immunoreactive protein and activity, and nitrite [stable metabolite of nitric oxide (NO)] production were markedly higher in newborn (1 day old) than juvenile (6–8 wk old) pig choroid. Treatment of isolated newborn choroids with the prostaglandin synthase inhibitor ibuprofen for 24 h reduced eNOS mRNA and nitrite production to values in juveniles. This effect was equally observed with the PGD2 receptor (DP) blocker BW A868C and was prevented by cotreatment with PGD2 but not other prostaglandins; similar observations were made on NOS activity in vivo. PGD2 also increased eNOS expression on choroids of juveniles, and this effect was blocked by BW A868C. The manifestation of this upregulation of eNOS by PGD2 on the control of choroidal vasomotor response was tested by using NO-dependent vasorelaxants, ACh, bradykinin (Bk), and substance P (SP). ACh-, Bk-, and SP-elicited choroidal vasorelaxation was greater in saline-treated newborn than juvenile pigs. Ibuprofen (24 h) decreased ACh-, Bk-, and SP-evoked vasorelaxation in newborns, whereas PGD2 increased that in juveniles and prevented the ibuprofen-induced attenuated relaxation in newborns; infusion of N ω-monomethyl-l-arginine in choroids of those animals treated with PGD2 reversed the augmented vasorelaxation to ACh, Bk, and SP. Finally, PGD2-induced upregulation of NOS in the perinate was also reflected by curtailed choroidal blood flow autoregulatory response to increased perfusion pressure. In conclusion, PGD2 exhibits a major role in upregulating eNOS expression and activity in the choroid, which in turn results in greater NO-mediated vasorelaxation; a new mechanism for eNOS regulation via DP is hereby disclosed. The relationship between PGD2 and eNOS in the developing subject provides an explanation for the interactive role of these two factors in the absent choroidal blood flow autoregulation in the perinate.

scholarly journals Role of Nitric Oxide in Cerebral Blood Flow Abnormalities after Traumatic Brain Injury

2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 582-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roman Hlatky ◽  
J. Clay Goodman ◽  
Alex B. Valadka ◽  
Claudia S. Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Cerebral Blood Flow ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
No Production ◽  
Critical Reduction ◽  
Nitrate And Nitrite ◽  
Enhanced Computed Tomography

Nitric oxide (NO) has important regulatory functions within the central nervous system. NO is oxidized in vivo to nitrate and nitrite (NOx). Measurement of these products gives an index of NO production. The purpose of this study was to examine the relation between the brain extracellular concentration of NO metabolites and cerebral blood flow (CBF) after severe traumatic brain injury. Using a chemiluminescence method, NOx concentrations were measured in 6,701 microdialysate samples obtained from 60 patients during the first 5 d after severe head injury. Regional and global values of CBF obtained by xenon-enhanced computed tomography were used for analyses. Dialysate NOx values were the highest within the first 24 h after brain trauma and gradually decreased over the 5 postinjury d (time effect, P < 0.001). Mean dialysate concentration of NOx was 15.5 ± 17.6 μmol/L (minimum 0.3, maximum 461 μmol/L) and 65% of samples were between 5 and 20 μmol/L. There was a significant relation between regional CBF and dialysate NOx levels (r2 = 0.316, P < 0.001). Dialysate NOx levels (9.5 ± 2.2 μmol/L) in patients with critical reduction of regional CBF (<18 mL · 100 g−1 · min−1) were significantly lower than in patients with normal CBF (18.6 ± 8.1 μmol/L; P < 0.001). This relation between the dialysate concentration of NOx and regional CBF suggests some role for NO in the abnormalities of CBF that occur after traumatic brain injury.

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