Nitric oxide reduces flow-induced superoxide production via cGMP-dependent protein kinase in thick ascending limbs

We have shown that increased luminal flow induces O2− and nitric oxide (NO) production in thick ascending limbs (TALs). However, the interaction of flow-stimulated NO and O2− in TALs is unclear. We hypothesized that NO inhibits flow-induced O2− production in TALs via cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG). We measured flow-stimulated O2− production in rat TALs using dihydroethidium in the absence and presence of l-arginine (0.3 mM), the substrate for NO synthase. The addition of l-arginine reduced flow-induced net O2− production from 68 ± 9 to 17 ± 4 AU/s ( P < 0.002). The addition of the NO synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME; 5 mM) in the presence of l-arginine stimulated production (l-arginine: 15 ± 4 AU/s vs. l-arginine + l-NAME: 63 ± 7 AU/s; P < 0.002). The guanylate cyclase inhibitor LY-83583 (10 μM) also enhanced flow-induced net O2− production in the presence of l-arginine (l-arginine: 7 ± 4 AU/s vs. l-arginine + LY-83583: 53 ± 7 AU/s; P < 0.01). In the presence of LY-83583, l-arginine only reduced flow-induced net O2− by 36% (LY-83583: 80 ± 7 AU/s vs. LY-83583 + l-arginine: 51 ± 3 AU/s; P < 0.006). The cGMP analog dibutyryl (db)-cGMP reduced flow-induced net O2− from 39 ± 9 to 7 ± 3 AU/s ( P < 0.03). The PKG inhibitor KT-5823 (5 μM) partially restored flow-induced net O2− in the presence of l-arginine (l-arginine: 4 ± 4 AU/s vs. l-arginine + KT-5823: 32 ± 9 AU/s; P < 0.03) and db-cGMP (db-cGMP: 9 ± 7 AU/s vs. db-cGMP + KT-5823: 54 ± 5 AU/s; P < 0.01). Phosphodiesterase II inhibition had no effect on arginine-inhibited O2− production. We conclude that 1) NO reduces flow-stimulated O2− production, 2) this occurs primarily via the cGMP/PKG pathway, and 3) O2− scavenging by NO plays a minor role.