scholarly journals Single passive leg movement assessment of vascular function: contribution of nitric oxide

2017 ◽  
Vol 123 (6) ◽  
pp. 1468-1476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan M. Broxterman ◽  
Joel D. Trinity ◽  
Jayson R. Gifford ◽  
Oh Sung Kwon ◽  
Andrew C. Kithas ◽  
...  

The assessment of passive leg movement (PLM)-induced leg blood flow (LBF) and vascular conductance (LVC) is a novel approach to assess vascular function that has recently been simplified to only a single PLM (sPLM), thereby increasing the clinical utility of this technique. As the physiological mechanisms mediating the robust increase in LBF and LVC with sPLM are unknown, we tested the hypothesis that nitric oxide (NO) is a major contributor to the sPLM-induced LBF and LVC response. In nine healthy men, sPLM was performed with and without NO synthase inhibition by intra-arterial infusion of NG-monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA). Doppler ultrasound and femoral arterial pressure were used to determine LBF and LVC, which were characterized by the peak change (ΔLBFpeak and ΔLVCpeak) and area under the curve (LBFAUC and LVCAUC). l-NMMA significantly attenuated ΔLBFpeak [492 ± 153 (l-NMMA) vs. 719 ± 238 (control) ml/min], LBFAUC [57 ± 34 (l NMMA) vs. 147 ± 63 (control) ml], ΔLVCpeak [4.7 ± 1.1 (l-NMMA) vs. 8.0 ± 3.0 (control) ml·min−1·mmHg−1], and LVCAUC [0.5 ± 0.3 (l-NMMA) vs. 1.6 ± 0.9 (control) ml/mmHg]. The magnitude of the NO contribution to LBF and LVC was significantly correlated with the magnitude of the control responses ( r = 0.94 for ΔLBFpeak, r = 0.85 for LBFAUC, r = 0.94 for ΔLVCpeak, and r = 0.95 for LVCAUC). These data establish that the sPLM-induced hyperemic and vasodilatory response is predominantly (~65%) NO-mediated. As such, sPLM appears to be a promising, simple, in vivo assessment of NO-mediated vascular function and NO bioavailability. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Passive leg movement (PLM), a novel assessment of vascular function, has been simplified to a single PLM (sPLM), thereby increasing the clinical utility of this technique. However, the role of nitric oxide (NO) in mediating the robust sPLM hemodynamic responses is unknown. This study revealed that sPLM induces a hyperemic and vasodilatory response that is predominantly NO-mediated and, as such, appears to be a promising simple, in vivo, clinical assessment of NO-mediated vascular function and, therefore, NO bioavailability.

2015 ◽  
Vol 308 (6) ◽  
pp. H672-H679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel D. Trinity ◽  
H. Jonathan Groot ◽  
Gwenael Layec ◽  
Matthew J. Rossman ◽  
Stephen J. Ives ◽  
...  

In young healthy men, passive leg movement (PLM) elicits a robust nitric oxide (NO)-dependent increase in leg blood flow (LBF), thus providing a novel approach to assess NO-mediated vascular function. While the magnitude of the LBF response to PLM is markedly reduced with age, the role of NO in this attenuated response in the elderly is unknown. Therefore, this study sought to determine the contribution of NO in the PLM-induced LBF with age. Fourteen male subjects (7 young, 24 ± 1 yr; and 7 old, 75 ± 3 yr) underwent PLM with and without NO synthase (NOS) inhibition achieved by intra-arterial infusion of NG-monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA). LBF was determined second-by-second by Doppler ultrasound, and central hemodynamics were measured by finger photoplethysmography. NOS inhibition blunted the PLM-induced peak increase in LBF in the young (control: 668 ± 106; l-NMMA: 431 ± 95 Δml/min; P = 0.03) but had no effect in the old (control: 266 ± 98; l-NMMA: 251 ± 92 Δml/min; P = 0.59). Likewise, the magnitude of the reduction in the overall (i.e., area under the curve) PLM-induced LBF response to NOS inhibition was less in the old (LBF: −31 ± 18 ml) than the young (LBF: −129 ± 21 ml; P < 0.01). These findings suggest that the age-associated reduction in PLM-induced LBF in the elderly is primarily due to a reduced contribution to vasodilation from NO and therefore support the use of PLM as a novel approach to assess NO-mediated vascular function across the lifespan.


2016 ◽  
Vol 120 (9) ◽  
pp. 991-999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley D. Nelson ◽  
Matthew J. Rossman ◽  
Melissa A. Witman ◽  
Zachary Barrett-O'Keefe ◽  
H. Jonathan Groot ◽  
...  

Post-cuff occlusion flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is a proposed indicator of nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and vascular function. FMD is reduced in patients with sepsis and may be a marker of end organ damage and mortality. However, FMD likely does not solely reflect NO-mediated vasodilation, is technically challenging, and often demonstrates poor reproducibility. In contrast, passive leg movement (PLM), a novel methodology to assess vascular function, yields a hyperemic response that is predominately NO-dependent, reproducible, and easily measured. This study evaluated PLM as an approach to assess NO-mediated vascular function in patients with sepsis. We hypothesized that PLM-induced hyperemia, quantified by the increase in leg blood flow (LBF), would be attenuated in sepsis. In a cross-sectional study, 17 subjects in severe sepsis or septic shock were compared with 16 matched healthy controls. Doppler ultrasound was used to assess brachial artery FMD and the hyperemic response to PLM in the femoral artery. FMD was attenuated in septic compared with control subjects (1.1 ± 1.7% vs. 6.8 ± 1.3%; values are means ± SD). In terms of PLM, baseline LBF (196 ± 33 ml/min vs. 328 ± 20 ml/min), peak change in LBF from baseline (133 ± 28 ml/min vs. 483 ± 86 ml/min), and the LBF area under the curve (16 ± 8.3 vs. 143 ± 33) were all significantly attenuated in septic subjects. Vascular function, as assessed by both FMD and PLM, is attenuated in septic subjects compared with controls. These data support the concept that NO bioavailability is attenuated in septic subjects, and PLM appears to be a novel and feasible approach to assess NO-mediated vascular function in sepsis.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (13) ◽  
pp. 4059-4062 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter B. Anning ◽  
Barbara Coles ◽  
Jonathan Morton ◽  
Haibin Wang ◽  
Jashim Uddin ◽  
...  

Abstract The cardiovascular safety of COX-2 selective and nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has recently been called into question. The factors that predispose to adverse events by NSAIDs are unknown. Because patients with arthritis have decreased nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, the in vivo effects of NSAIDs on murine vascular tone and platelet activity in the presence or absence of NO were examined. Here, we show that acute hypertensive and prothrombotic activities of the COX-2–selective inhibitor celecoxib are revealed only after in vivo inhibition of NO generation. The nonselective NSAID indomethacin was hypertensive but antithrombotic when NO was absent. In vitro myography of aortic rings confirmed that vasoconstriction required inhibition of both NOS and COX-2 and was abolished by supplementation with exogenous NO. These data indicate that NO suppresses vascular side effects of NSAIDs, suggesting that risk will be greatest in patients with impaired vascular function associated with decreased NO bioavailability.


Author(s):  
Theresa Chikopela ◽  
Douglas C. Heimburger ◽  
Longa Kaluba ◽  
Pharaoh Hamambulu ◽  
Newton Simfukwe ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Endothelial function is dependent on the balance between vasoconstrictive and vasodilatory substances. The endothelium ability to produce nitric oxide is one of the most crucial mechanisms in regulating vascular tone. An increase in inducible nitric oxide synthase contributes to endothelial dysfunction in overweight persons, while oxidative stress contributes to the conversion of nitric oxide to peroxynitrite (measured as nitrotyrosine in vivo) in underweight persons. The objective of this study was to elucidate the interaction of body composition and oxidative stress on vascular function and peroxynitrite. This was done through an experimental design with three weight groups (underweight, normal weight and overweight), with four treatment arms in each. Plasma nitrotyrosine levels were measured 15–20 h post lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment, as were aortic ring tension changes. Acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) challenges were used to observe endothelial-dependent and endothelial-independent vascular relaxation after pre-constriction of aortic rings with phenylephrine. Results Nitrotyrosine levels in saline-treated rats were similar among the weight groups. There was a significant increase in nitrotyrosine levels between saline-treated rats and those treated with the highest lipopolysaccharide doses in each of the weight groups. In response to ACh challenge, Rmax (percentage reduction in aortic tension) was lowest in overweight rats (112%). In response to SNP, there was an insignificantly lower Rmax in the underweight rats (106%) compared to the normal weight rats (112%). Overweight rats had a significant decrease in Rmax (83%) in response to SNP, signifying involvement of a more chronic process in tension reduction changes. A lower Rmax accompanied an increase in peroxynitrite after acetylcholine challenge in all weight groups. Conclusions Endothelial dysfunction, observed as an impairment in the ability to reduce tension, is associated with increased plasma peroxynitrite levels across the spectrum of body mass. In higher-BMI rats, an additional role is played by vascular smooth muscle in the causation of endothelial dysfunction.


2017 ◽  
Vol 122 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimo Venturelli ◽  
Gwenael Layec ◽  
Joel Trinity ◽  
Corey R. Hart ◽  
Ryan M. Broxterman ◽  
...  

Passive leg movement (PLM)-induced hyperemia is a novel approach to assess vascular function, with a potential clinical role. However, in some instances, the varying chronotropic response induced by PLM has been proposed to be a potentially confounding factor. Therefore, we simplified and modified the PLM model to require just a single PLM (sPLM), an approach that may evoke a peripheral hemodynamic response, allowing a vascular function assessment, but at the same time minimizing central responses. To both characterize and assess the utility of sPLM, in 12 healthy subjects, we measured heart rate (HR), stroke volume, cardiac output (CO), mean arterial pressure (MAP), leg blood flow (LBF), and calculated leg vascular conductance (LVC) during both standard PLM, consisting of passive knee flexion and extension performed at 1 Hz for 60 s, and sPLM, consisting of only a single passive knee flexion and extension over 1 s. During PLM, MAP transiently decreased (5 ± 1 mmHg), whereas both HR and CO increased from baseline (6.0 ± 1.1 beats/min, and 0.8 ± 0.01 l/min, respectively). Following sPLM, MAP fell similarly (5 ± 2 mmHg; P = 0.8), but neither HR nor CO responses were identifiable. The peak LBF and LVC response was similar for PLM (993 ± 189 ml/min; 11.9 ± 1.5 ml·min−1·mmHg−1, respectively) and sPLM (878 ± 119 ml/min; 10.9 ± 1.6 ml·min−1·mmHg−1, respectively). Thus sPLM represents a variant of the PLM approach to assess vascular function that is more easily performed and evokes a peripheral stimulus that induces a significant hyperemia, but does not generate a potentially confounding, chronotropic response, which may make sPLM more useful clinically. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Using the single passive leg movement (PLM) technique, a variant of the vascular function assessment PLM, we have identified a novel peripheral vascular assessment method that is more easily performed than PLM, which, by not evoking potentially confounding central hemodynamic responses, may be more useful clinically.


2005 ◽  
Vol 289 (2) ◽  
pp. H916-H923 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nelson N. Orie ◽  
Patrick Vallance ◽  
Dean P. Jones ◽  
Kevin P. Moore

It is now established that S-nitroso-albumin (SNO-albumin) circulates at low nanomolar concentrations under physiological conditions, but concentrations may increase to micromolar levels during disease states (e.g., cirrhosis or endotoxemia). This study tested the hypothesis that high concentrations of SNO-albumin observed in some diseases modulate vascular function and that it acts as a stable reservoir of nitric oxide (NO), releasing this molecule when the concentrations of low-molecular-weight thiols are increased. SNO-albumin was infused into rats to increase the plasma concentration from <50 nmol/l to ∼4 μmol/l. This caused a 29 ± 6% drop in blood pressure, 20 ± 4% decrease in aortic blood flow, and a 25 ± 14% reduction of renal blood flow within 10 min. These observations were in striking contrast to those of an infused arterial vasodilator (hydralazine), which increased aortic blood flow, and suggested that SNO-albumin acts primarily as a venodilator in vivo. This was confirmed by the observations that glyceryl trinitrate (a venodilator) led to similar hemodynamic changes and that the hemodynamic effects of SNO-albumin are reversed by infusion of colloid. Infusion of N-acetylcysteine into animals with artificially elevated plasma SNO-albumin concentrations led to the rapid decomposition of SNO-albumin in vivo and reproduced the hemodynamic effects of SNO-albumin infusion. These data demonstrate that SNO-albumin acts primarily as a venodilator in vivo and represents a stable reservoir of NO that can release NO when the concentrations of low-molecular-weight thiols are elevated.


1999 ◽  
Vol 277 (1) ◽  
pp. F58-F65 ◽  
Author(s):  
David H. Warden ◽  
Anthony J. Croatt ◽  
Zvonimir S. Katusic ◽  
Karl A. Nath

In the glycerol model of renal injury we describe an acute rise in systemic arterial pressure which is attended by a reduced vasodilatory response to acetylcholine in vivo; vasodilatory responses to verapamil, however, were not impaired. Neither arginine nor sodium nitroprusside diminished this rise in blood pressure; N ω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) elevated basal mean arterial pressure and markedly blunted the rise in mean arterial pressure following the administration of glycerol. Aortic rings from the glycerol-treated rat demonstrate an impaired vasodilatory response to acetylcholine, an effect not repaired by arginine; the vasodilatory responses to nitric oxide donors, sodium nitroprusside and SIN-1, were also impaired; 8-bromo-cGMP, at higher doses, evinced a vasodilatory response comparable to that observed in the control rings. This pattern of responses was not a nonspecific effect of aortic injury, since aortic rings treated with mercuric chloride, a potent oxidant, displayed an impaired vasodilatory response to acetylcholine but not to sodium nitroprusside. We conclude that in the glycerol model of heme protein-induced tissue injury, there is an acute elevation in mean arterial pressure attended by impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in vitro and in vivo. We suggest that the acute scavenging of nitric oxide by heme proteins depletes the blood vessel wall of its endogenous vasodilator and permeation of heme proteins into the blood vessel wall may contribute to such sustained effects as observed in vitro.


1993 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 424-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Winn ◽  
B. Vallet ◽  
N. K. Asante ◽  
S. E. Curtis ◽  
S. M. Cain

We investigated the responses of canine coronary rings to endothelium-derived relaxing factor-nitric oxide- (EDRF-NO) dependent agonists and NO synthase (NOS) inhibitors 3 h after endotoxic shock was induced in dogs by lipopolysaccharide infusion (LPS; 2 mg/kg). EDRF-NO-dependent relaxation to thrombin [control maximum response produced after administration of thrombin (Emax) was -85.2 +/- 7.0% of the constrictor response produced by the thromboxane analogue U-46619], acetylcholine (control Emax -88.4 +/- 3.4%), or bradykinin (control Emax -80.5 +/- 2.2%) was not inhibited by LPS (Emax thrombin -75.9 +/- 9.5%; Emax acetylcholine -90.2 +/- 2.4%; Emax bradykinin -91.6 +/- 3.4%). The NOS inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) (10(-6)-3 x 10(-4) M) caused constriction of rings with endothelium (Emax 36.3 +/- 5.6%), an effect that was greater after LPS (Emax 59.2 +/- 4.1%; P < 0.05). D-NMMA had no effect in control, but it increased tension after LPS (Emax 20.8 +/- 9.7%). Contrary to expectations, L- and D-NMMA relaxed endothelium-denuded rings (-30.4 +/- 8.7% L-NMMA; -45.1 +/- 11.7% D-NMMA; P < 0.05). However, neither agent caused relaxation after in vivo LPS (10.2 +/- 3.4% L-NMMA; 8.9 +/- 5.2% D-NMMA). N omega-nitro-L-arginine-methylester (L-NAME) and nitro-L-arginine (10(-6)-3 x 10(-4) M) increased tension (Emax 82.3 +/- 23.9 and 73.1 +/- 8.8%, respectively) but only when endothelium was present, and the increases were no greater in LPS-treated groups than in controls (with LPS: Emax L-NAME 87.3 +/- 16.5%; Emax nitro-L-arginine 65.7 +/- 3.3%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 208-208
Author(s):  
Lewis L. Hsu ◽  
Hunter C. Champion ◽  
Elizabeth Manci ◽  
Bhalchandra Diwan ◽  
Daniel Schimel ◽  
...  

Abstract Pulmonary hypertension is increasingly recognized in sickle cell disease (SCD) as a strong risk factor for early mortality. The finding of pulmonary hypertension in other hemolytic anemias suggests that the mechanism is linked to hemolysis and/or thrombosis. Pathophysiologic roles of nitric oxide (NO) consumption and recurrent lung injury have been considered. Transgenic mice expressing exclusively human sickle hemoglobin (sickle mice)(Pastzy 1997) are well established models of severe hemolytic anemia and ischemic organ damage in SCD, and provide the opportunity to examine mechanisms of pulmonary hypertension with invasive studies. Hypotheses: Pulmonary hypertension will spontaneously occur in sickle mice but not age-matched colony controls, and severity will increase as the mice grow older. Methods: Male sickle mice were compared with age-matched hemizygotes from the same colony. Mice had cardiac catheterization for baseline hemodynamics, then challenges to assess pulmonary vascular responsiveness. A pathologist made blinded assessments of the pulmonary histology. Results: Cardiac catheterization showed pulmonary hypertension in all sickle mice, and blunted pulmonary vasodilation to all NO donor compounds as well as authentic NO gas. Computed tomography in vivo detected pulmonary vascular congestion. Older sickle mice had modestly increased vessel wall thickness and vascular congestion but no thrombi by histology. Older mice also appear to be in right heart failure. Sickle mouse lungs had decreased eNOS activity (measured by L-arginine to citrulline turnover) and loss of active eNOS dimer (measured by western blotting). Sickle mouse plasma had high NO consumption, consistent with increased NO scavenging by free hemoglobin released by steady state hemolysis. mean & SD hemizygote control (5 mo & 13 mo) 5 mo sickle 13 mo sickle Pulmonary Arterial Pressure (torr) 9.4 (0.7) 18.2 (0.5) 14.8 (0.3) Pulmonary Vascular Resistance 0.37 (0.6) 0.80 (0.07) 0.75 (0.04) Cardiac Output (ml/min) 14.2 (2) 17.1 (2) 12.2 (2) Vasodilation to NO & NO donors, or bradykinin (endothelium-dependent) normal blunted none Vasodilation to CGRP (NO-independent and endothelium-independent) normal normal blunted Hypoxic vasoconstriction (10%O2) normal enhanced enhanced Discussion: This is one of the few descriptions of spontaneous pulmonary hypertension in an animal, and implicates low NO bioavailability mediated by NO resistance/scavenging. Interestingly, pulmonary thromboembolism was not observed. Combined effects of NO scavenging and the loss of active eNOS dimer may explain paradoxical blunted responses to NO donor agents, blunted responses to NO synthase inhibition, and arginine supplementation observed in patients with SCD, despite increased NO synthase protein expression. It is also likely that aberrant superoxide formation from uncoupled monomeric NO synthase contributes to vascular NO scavenging. In conclusion, pulmonary hypertension, associated with a vasoconstrictor phenotype and low NO bioavailability, develops early in the sickle cell transgenic mouse.


Author(s):  
Joel D. Trinity ◽  
Oh Sung Kwon ◽  
Ryan M. Broxterman ◽  
Jayson R. Gifford ◽  
Andrew C. Kithas ◽  
...  

Passive leg movement (PLM) evokes a robust and predominantly nitric oxide (NO)-mediated increase in blood flow that declines with age and disease. Consequently, PLM is becoming increasingly accepted as a sensitive assessment of endothelium-mediated vascular function. However, a substantial PLM-induced hyperemic response is still evoked despite NO synthase (NOS) inhibition. Therefore, in 9 young healthy men (25±4 yrs), this investigation aimed to determine if the combination of two potent endothelium-dependent vasodilators, specifically prostaglandin (PG) and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF), account for the remaining hyperemic response to the two variants of PLM, PLM (60 movements) and single PLM (sPLM, 1 movement) when NOS is inhibited. The leg blood flow (LBF, Doppler ultrasound) response to PLM and sPLM following the intra-arterial infusion of NG-monomethyl L-arginine (L-NMMA), to inhibit NOS, was compared to the combined inhibition of NOS, cyclooxygenase (COX), and cytochrome P450 (CYP450) by L-NMMA, ketorolac tromethamine (KET), and fluconazole (FLUC), respectively. NOS inhibition attenuated the overall LBF (LBFAUC) response to both PLM (control: 456±194, L-NMMA: 168±127 ml, p<0.01) and sPLM (control: 185±171, L-NMMA: 62±31 ml, p=0.03). The combined inhibition of NOS, COX, and CYP450 (i.e. L-NMMA+KET+FLUC) did not further attenuate the hyperemic responses to PLM (LBFAUC: 271±97 ml, p>0.05) or sPLM (LBFAUC: 72±45 ml, p>0.05). Therefore, PG and EDHF do not collectively contribute to the non-NOS-derived NO-mediated, endothelium-dependent, hyperemic response to either PLM or sPLM in healthy young men. These findings add to the mounting evidence and understanding of the vasodilatory pathways assessed by the PLM and sPLM vascular function tests.


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