Differential expression of pulmonary nitric oxide synthase isoforms after intestinal ischemia-reperfusion

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Nitric oxide has been implicated in both attenuating and aggravating ischemia-reperfusion injury in most organs. This study aimed to investigate the role of nitric oxide produced by the two principal isoforms of nitric oxide synthase in the lung during post-ischemic reperfusion of the intestine. METHODOLOGY: Rats were randomized into four groups of 6 animals: Group A: laparotomy and superior mesenteric artery dissection without occlusion and maintenance for 2 h (control group at 2 h). Group B: laparatomy and superior mesenteric artery occlusion for 30 min and reperfusion of the intestine for 2 h (ischemia-reperfusion group at 2 h). Group C: control animals at 6 h. Group D: ischemia-reperfusion animals at 6 h. Arterial blood pressure was monitored throughout the procedure. Animals were euthanazed at the end of the experiment, and lungs were harvested for histological assessment of injury and for immunohistochemical examination of nitric oxide synthase isoforms and nitrotyrosine. RESULTS: In all animals subjected to intestinal ischemia a period of systemic hypotension occurred immediately upon reperfusion. Histological evidence of lung injury was limited to those animals subjected to an intestinal reperfusion insult. Compared to control animals, pulmonary endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression was diminished at 2 h (p = 0.002), while expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (p = 0.002) and nitrotyrosine (p = 0.02) was increased at 6 h. CONCLUSIONS: Following intestinal ischemia-reperfusion, early pulmonary damage is associated with decreased endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression in the lung. Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase occurs during the later stages of reperfusion; this leads to overproduction of nitric oxide with consequent nitrosylation of protein tyrosine residues and thus aggravated pulmonary injury.     

Inhibition of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Prevents Hepatic, but Not Pulmonary, Injury Following Ischemia-Reperfusion of Rat Liver

The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-derived nitric oxide on the liver and lung injury following hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) using a novel and potent iNOS inhibitor, ONO-1714. Rats were subjected to 90 min of partial hepatic ischemia followed by 3, 6, 12, and 24 hr of reperfusion. Expression of iNOS mRNA peaked at 3 hr of reperfusion in the liver and lung. Plasma nitric oxide levels were increased fourfold at 24 hr of reperfusion and plasma ALT was increased, reaching a peak at 12 hr of reperfusion; both were significantly inhibited by ONO-1714. Histological examination revealed extensive liver damage, whereas this was not seen in the ONO-1714 group. Lung injury was not significantly changed in groups with versus without ONO-1714. Nitrotyrosine expression was seen in regions similar to those of the histological injuries of the liver, while this staining was absent in the ONO-1714 group. These data show that generation of peroxynitrite could be involved in the pathogenesis of liver injury but not lung injury after hepatic I/R. Inhibition of iNOS could be applied for attenuation of liver injury following hepatic I/R.     

Intestinal ischemia induces late preconditioning against myocardial infarction: a role for inducible nitric oxide synthase

OBJECTIVE: We tested the hypothesis that occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery induces late preconditioning against myocardial infarction and examined the effects of pharmacological modifiers of inducible nitric oxide synthase activity on the late preconditioning in anesthetized rats. METHODS: Rats underwent an intestinal ischemia preconditioning protocol (30 min occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery) or were sham-operated. They were subjected to a sustained 30 min of coronary occlusion and 180 min of reperfusion 24 h later. RESULTS: In rats receiving no pharmacological intervention, the percentage of myocardial infarct within the area at risk and left ventricle was 72+/-4% and 31+/-2%, respectively, in sham-operated rats, and these were significantly reduced to 44+/-4% and 23+/-2% (P<0.01) 24 h after intestinal ischemia preconditioning. Myeloperoxidase activity was significantly reduced by intestinal ischemia preconditioning. Administration of aminoguanidine (300 mg/kg, s.c.) or S-methylisothiourea sulfate (3 mg/kg, i.v.), both relative inducible NO synthase inhibitors, 60 or 30 min before sustained myocardial ischemia not only abolished the late preconditioning afforded by intestinal ischemia, but also inhibited the ability of intestinal ischemia preconditioning to significantly reduce neutrophil infiltration. A change in inducible NO synthase activity was not observed in normal myocardium 24 h after intestinal ischemia, but 30 min of coronary occlusion significantly increased the inducible NO synthase activity in the preconditioned group, which was abolished by aminoguanidine or S-methylisothiourea sulfate. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide pharmacological evidence that induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase, following intestinal ischemia, is associated with increased myocardial tolerance to infarction 24 h later.     

Nicotinamide abrogates acute lung injury caused by ischaemia/reperfusion.

Poly (ADP-ribose) synthase or polymerase (PARS and PARP, respectively) is a cytotoxic enzyme which causes cellular damage. Nicotinamide, a compound of vitamin B complex, has been reported to exert an inhibitory effect on PARS or PARP. The present study tests the effects of nicotinamide on acute lung injury and associated alterations following ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) of the isolated perfused rat's lung. I/R increased the lung weight (LW) to body weight ratio, LW gain, protein and dye tracer leakage, pulmonary arterial pressure and capillary permeability. The insult also increased nitrate/nitrite, methyl guanidine, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta in lung perfusate, while it decreased adenosine triphosphate content with an increase in PARP activity in lung tissue. Most of the I/R-induced changes were abrogated by post-treatment (30 min after I/R) with nicotinamide (100 mg.kg(-1) body weight). However, the increase in pulmonary arterial pressure was enhanced by nicotinamide post-treatment. Following I/R, the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression was enhanced. Nicotinamide reduced the iNOS expression. The results suggest that nicotinamide exerted a protective effect on the acute lung injury caused by ischaemia/reperfusion. The mechanisms may be mediated through the inhibition on the poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase activity, inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and the subsequent suppression of nitric oxide, free radicals and pro-inflammatory cytokines with restoration of adenosine triphosphate.     

吡咯列酮对雨蛙肽诱导急性胰腺炎氧化应激过程的作用

目的 探讨过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体(PPAR)γ激动剂吡咯列酮在雨蛙肽诱导大鼠急性胰腺炎中对氧化应激产物的影响及保护作用.方法 30只雄性SD大鼠随机分为对照组、雨蛙肽+不同剂量吡咯列酮组、雨蛙肽组、雨蛙肽+吡咯列酮+GW9662组.每组6只.急性胰腺炎造模30 min后处死大鼠,光镜下观察胰腺组织病理学变化,测定各组大鼠胰腺组织质量与体重比,比色法检测胰腺组织髓过氧化物酶(MPO)活性、丙二醛(MDA)和一氧化氮合酶(NOS)及组织诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)含量.结果 与对照组比较,雨蛙肽组胰腺组织水肿严重胰腺净重/体重(0.0072比0.0042)],MPO活性、MDA、NOS及iNOS含量升高(P＜0.01).与雨蛙肽组比较,吡咯列酮20 mg/kg及40 mg/kg组胰腺损伤减轻,胰腺净重/体重、MPO活性、MDA和NOS及iNOS含量降低(P＜0.05);与吡咯列酮40 mg/kg组比较,PPARγ拮抗剂GW9662逆转了吡咯列酮的保护作用(P＜0.05).结论 在雨蛙肽诱导的大鼠急性胰腺炎发病中,胰腺腺泡细胞的氧化应激损伤起了重要的作用,PPARγ激动剂吡咯列酮预先干预,通过降低氧化应激过程,对雨蛙肽诱导的大鼠急性胰腺炎有一定的保护作用.     

姜黄素对大鼠肝缺血再灌注早期肝组织一氧化氮表达的影响

目的:探讨姜黄素对大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注早期损伤微循环的影响.方法:将大鼠随机分为假手术组、对照组和实验组(姜黄素40 mg/kg,2次给药).通过检测再灌注早期1、3 h血清转氨酶水平、肝组织中一氧化氮(nitricoxide,NO)、一氧化氮合酶(nitricoxide synthase,NOS),诱导型一氧化氮合酶(inducible nitricoxide synthase,iNOS)mRNA及内皮型一氧化氮合酶(endothelium nitricoxide synthase,eNOS)mRNA水平,以及肝组织病理学检查来评价姜黄素对大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注早期损伤微循环的影响.结果:相对于对照组,姜黄素可降低大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注早期损伤1、3 h血清谷丙转氨酶(ALT)的水平(603.8 U/L±64.5 U/L vs 758.1 U/L±114.7U/L,837.1 U/L±33.3 U/L vs 1012.7 U/L±119.8 U/L,均P<0.01)和谷草转氨酶(AST)的水平(605.7 U/L±65.7 U/L vs 779.5 U/L±124.3 U/L,849.6 U/L±36.0 U/L vs 1027.8 U/L±139.8 U/L,均P<0.01);改善肝组织病理学损害;减少肝脏缺血再灌注早期损伤1、3 h肝组织由iNOS产生的NO蛋白水平(0.455±0.056 vs 0.594±0.087.0.492±0.040 vs 0.671±0.079,均P<0.01);降低肝脏缺血再灌注早期损伤1、3 h肝组织iNOS mRNA的表达强度(0.426±0.075 vs 0.569±0.073,0.527±0.066vs 0.702±0.089,均P<0.01).结论:姜黄素可通过减轻肝组织中由iNOS产生的NO生成,来改善肝缺血再灌注早期损伤中微循环的紊乱,从而减少对肝缺血再灌注肝实质细胞的损伤.     

Panax notoginseng saponins attenuate acute lung injury induced by intestinal ischaemia/reperfusion in rats

Background and objective:   Acute lung injury remains a challenge for both clinicians and scientists. The effects of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on acute lung injury induced by intestinal ischaemia/reperfusion (II/R) were studied in rats.
Methods:   Forty-eight Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups: (1) a sham-operated group that received laparotomy without II/R ( n = 12); (2) a sham + PNS group, which was identical to group 1 except for PNS treatment ( n = 12); (3) an II/R group that had 1 h of intestinal ischaemia followed by 3 h of reperfusion ( n = 12); and (4) an II/R + PNS group that received 100 mg/kg of PNS, i.v., 15 min before reperfusion ( n = 12). The effects of PNS administration on lung tissue histology, activities of oxidant and antioxidant enzymes, levels of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide and inducible nitric oxide synthase activity were examined. Levels of surfactant protein B, cell numbers in BAL fluid and plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were also examined.
Results:   Compared with the II/R group, pulmonary parenchymal damage, activities of oxidant enzymes, levels of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide, inducible nitric oxide synthase activity in lung tissue, and plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were significantly reduced by PNS treatment. In addition, the decreases in antioxidant enzyme activities were prevented in the II/R + PNS group. Total leukocyte and neutrophil counts were significantly decreased by PNS treatment. The decline in surfactant protein B levels in BAL fluid was reduced in the II/R + PNS group compared with the II/R group.
Conclusions:   Administration of PNS before reperfusion injury alleviates acute lung injury induced by II/R, and this is attributable to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of PNS.     

The role of nitric oxide in endotoxin-induced cardiodepression

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the participation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in cardiodepressive phenomena during late preconditioning caused by subtoxic doses of lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

METHODS:

Spontaneously beating hearts isolated from male Wistar rats (350 g to 400 g), intact or preconditioned with LPS (0.25 mg/kg given intraperitoneally 18 h before heart excision), were used to measure contractile performance during 30 min of ischemia and 40 min of reperfusion in the Langendorff mode. For selective iNOS blockade, hearts were perfused with phenylene-1,3-bis(ethane-2-isothiourea) (50 nmol/L). Expression of iNOS (determined using Western blotting) and NOS activities were determined in frozen myocardial tissues.

RESULTS:

Subtoxic doses of LPS caused iNOS induction in the heart and depression of contractile function, but improved heart postischemic recovery. In all groups of animals, expression of iNOS was higher in the right than left ventricles. Ischemia and postischemic reperfusion of intact heart intensified production of nitric oxide (NO), predominantly by iNOS. The preconditioning led to iNOS activation during ischemia in the left ventricle and iNOS depression in the right ventricle, owing to feedback caused by the initially higher iNOS expression and activity in the right ventricle. Postischemic reperfusion diminished NOS activities in preconditioned myocardial tissues. Blockade of iNOS significantly slowed preconditioned heart recovery and partially restored left ventricular developed pressure, but only after 20 min of reperfusion.

CONCLUSIONS:

iNOS-produced NO plays a role in the development of delayed cardioprotection and cardiodepressive effects (in part) after extravasal administration of a minimal dose of endotoxin.     

Comparison of endothelial function evaluated by strain gauge plethysmography and brachial artery ultrasound

BACKGROUND: the cardiac Renin-Angiotensin system (RAS) plays an important role in the regulation of coronary flow and cardiac function and structure in normal and pathological conditions such as ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the Angiotensin II type 1 (AT-1) receptor antagonist MK-954 (losartan potassium) on postischemic endothelial dysfunction and NOS mRNA expression (inducible nitric oxide synthase, iNOS; endothelial nitric oxide synthase, eNOS) in isolated working rat hearts. METHODS: isolated working rat hearts were subjected to 15 min global ischemia and 180 min reperfusion. MK-954 was added to perfusion buffer (a modified Krebs-Henseleit solution) at 1 microM concentration. We assessed functional parameters, creatin kinase (CK) release, heart weight changes, microvascular postischemic hyperpermeability (FITC-albumin extravasation) and morphological ultrastructural alterations. eNOS and iNOS mRNA levels were also detected by the means of multiplex RT-PCR technique using glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PDH) gene as internal control; results were expressed as densitometric ratio. RESULTS: in Losartan-treated hearts we observed a significant reduction of postischemic contractile dysfunction, CK release and myocardial ultrastructural damage; postischemic FITC-albumin extravasation was significantly reduced respect to controls. Moreover, 1 microM Losartan produced a significant reduction of eNOS/G3PDH respect to untreated hearts submitted to I/R. Regarding iNOS/G3PDH ratio, no significant changes were detected in Losartan-treated hearts compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: our study revealed that Losartan treatment before ischemia, and during reperfusion, is able to reduce the reperfusion injury of the rat heart by reducing mechanical and microcirculatory dysfunction and necrotic cell death, ameliorating cardiac ultrastructure and endothelial protection, probably inducing eNOS over-expression and reducing post-ischemic hyperpermeability of coronary microcirculation.     

Inducible nitric oxide synthase activation after ischemia/reperfusion contributes to myocardial dysfunction and extent of infarct size in rabbits: evidence for a late phase of nitric oxide-mediated reperfusion injury

BACKGROUND: Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) leads to the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase. The present study investigated the effects of selective and continuous inhibition of iNOS on myocardial performance, infarct size and histomorphological changes after I/R in rabbits. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) was induced by occlusion of the circumflex coronary artery for 30 min followed by 48 h of reperfusion. Sham animals (group A) served as control. Three groups were subjected to I/R: (B) placebo; (C) aminoguanidine (AMG; 10 mg/kg bolus) given prior to and 48 h after I/R to test its acute effects; (D) AMG (300 mg/kg/day s.c.) to test effects of continuous treatment. Hemodynamics, myocardial blood flow, infarct size, iNOS activity, cGMP levels, immunohistochemical analysis of iNOS expression and AMG tissue levels were determined. Continuous AMG treatment improved myocardial performance (hemodynamics and blood flow) compared to placebo group. iNOS was highest in placebo-treated animals. AMG tissue levels were highest in tissues affected by I/R. Infarct size (% of the circumflex region) was significantly smaller in group D when compared to group B. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study showing that activation of myocardial iNOS isozyme during 48 h of reperfusion contributes to a late phase of I/R-induced injury in rabbits. Selective and continuous modulation of iNOS by AMG over this time period exerts protective effects with respect to myocardial performance, coronary blood flow, cellular infiltration and reduction of infarct size; this may be a novel therapeutic approach in the clinical situation to limit irreversible myocardial injury associated with ischemia and reperfusion.     

Morphological evidence for the existence of nitric oxide and carbon monoxide pathways in the rat islets of Langerhans: An immunocytochemical and confocal microscopical study

Abstract Aims/hypothesis. To map the cellular location of inducible and constitutive nitric oxide synthase and haem oxygenase in rat islets to clarify the morphological background to putative nitric oxide and carbon monoxide pathways. Methods. Immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy. Results. After treatment with endotoxin, immunoreactivity for inducible nitric oxide synthase was expressed in a large number of islet cells, most of which were insulin-immunoreactive beta cells and in single glucagon-immunoreactive and pancreatic polypeptide-immunoreactive cells. Somatostatin-immunoreactive cells lacked immunoreactivity for inducible nitric oxide synthase. In untreated rats, immunoreactivity for constitutive nitric oxide synthase occurred in the majority of insulin-immunoreactive and glucagon-immunoreactive cells, in most pancreatic polypeptide-immunoreactive and somatostatin-immunoreactive cells and in islet nerves. Similarly, immunoreactivity for constitutive haem oxygenase was detected in all four types of islet cells. Endotoxin treatment did not change the pattern of immunoreactivity for constitutive and inducible haem oxygenase. After treatment with alloxan, insulin-immunoreactivity was observed only in single islet cells, being almost devoid of immunoreactivity for constitutive nitric oxide synthase and haem oxygenase. Conclusion/interpretation. In vivo endotoxin-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in insulin-producing and in scattered glucagon-producing and pancreatic polypeptide-producing cells strengthens previous suggestions of a pathophysiological role for inducible nitric oxide synthase in the development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The presence of constitutive nitric oxide synthase and haem oxygenase in all four types of islet cells, together with recent functional data of ours support roles for nitric oxide and carbon monoxide as intracellular, paracrine or neurocrine modulators of islet hormone secretion. [Diabetologia (1999) 42: 978–986] Received: 19 November 1998 and in revised form: 22 March 1999     

Nitric oxide inhibits ischemia/reperfusion-induced myocardial apoptosis by modulating cyclin A-associated kinase activity

OBJECTIVE: Ischemia/reperfusion in the heart causes myocardial apoptosis and increase nitric oxide (NO) production. We have reported that myocardial apoptosis is related to activation of cell cycle regulatory proteins. However, the role of nitric oxide (NO) in ischemia/reperfusion-induced apoptosis is still unclear. This study was designated to elucidate novel apoptosis mechanisms induced by ischemia/reperfusion, especially the interaction between NO and cell cycle regulators. METHODS AND RESULTS: Neonatal cardiomyocytes from 1- or 2-day-old Wistar rats were subjected to 1-h ischemia and then to reperfusion. The rate of cardiomyocyte apoptosis increased significantly after 24 h of reperfusion as evaluated by TUNEL analysis. NO increased 1.8-fold after 15 min of reperfusion in cardiomyocytes. After 36 h of reperfusion, the apoptosis rate was greatly increased by the NO synthetase inhibitor, Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), and decreased by the NO donor of S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP). Immunoblot analysis showed that the protein levels of cyclin A accumulated in a time-dependent manner in response to ischemia/reperfusion, and L-NAME inhibited this response. Ischemia/reperfusion also increased the activity of cyclin A-associated kinase, and the apoptosis was inhibited by infection of dominant-negative cdk2 adenovirus. To clarify the involvement of p21(cip1/waf1) protein, which is the suppressor of cyclin A-associated kinase, we performed immunoblot analysis and examined its kinase activity. Treatment of cardiomyocytes with L-NAME suppressed the p21(cip1/waf1) protein level and increased the cyclin A-associated kinase activity. The addition of SNAP showed inverse results. CONCLUSION: Our data indicates that NO released from cardiomyocytes under condition of ischemia/reperfusion exerts an antiapoptotic effect by modulating cyclin A-associated kinase activity via p21(cip1/waf1) accumulation.     

Nitrite confers protection against myocardial infarction: role of xanthine oxidoreductase, NADPH oxidase and K(ATP) channels

Reduction of nitrite to nitric oxide during ischemia protects the heart against injury from ischemia/reperfusion. However the optimal dose of nitrite and the mechanisms underlying nitrite-induced cardioprotection are not known. We determined the ability of nitrite and nitrate to confer protection against myocardial infarction in two rat models of ischemia/reperfusion injury and the role of xanthine oxidoreductase, NADPH oxidase, nitric oxide synthase and K(ATP) channels in mediating nitrite-induced cardioprotection. In vivo and in vitro rat models of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury were used to cause infarction. Hearts (n=6/group) were treated with nitrite or nitrate for 15 min prior to 30 min regional ischemia and 180 min reperfusion. Xanthine oxidoreductase activity was measured after 15 min aerobic perfusion and 30 min ischemia. Nitrite reduced myocardial necrosis and decline in ventricular function following ischemia/reperfusion in the intact and isolated rat heart in a dose- or concentration-dependent manner with an optimal dose of 4 mg/kg in vivo and concentration of 10 microM in vitro. Nitrate had no effect on protection. Reduction in infarction by nitrite was abolished by the inhibition of flavoprotein reductases and the molybdenum site of xanthine oxidoreductase and was associated with an increase in activity of xanthine dehydrogenase and xanthine oxidase during ischemia. Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase had no effect on nitrite-induced cardioprotection. Inhibition of NADPH oxidase and K(ATP) channels abolished nitrite-induced cardioprotection. Nitrite but not nitrate protects against infarction by a mechanism involving xanthine oxidoreductase, NADPH oxidase and K(ATP) channels.     

How to protect liver graft with nitric oxide

Organ preservation and ischemia reperfusion injury as- sociated with liver transplantation play an important role in the induction of graft injury. One of the earliest events associated with the reperfusion injury is en- dothelial cell dysfunction. It is generally accepted that endothelial nitric oxide synthase (e-NOS) is cell-pro- tective by mediating vasodilatation, whereas inducible nitric oxide synthase mediates liver graft injury after transplantation. We conducted a critical review of the literature e...     

Protective effect of inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor on pancreas transplantation in rats

AIM： To investigate the effect of inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, aminoguanidine, on pancreas transplantation in rats. METHODS： A model of pancreas transplantation was established in rats. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to sham-operation control group （n = 6）, transplant control group （n = 6）, and aminoguanidine （AG） treatment group （n = 18）. In the AG group, aminoguanidine was added to intravascular infusion as the onset of reperfusion at the dose of 60 mg/kg, 80 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg body weight, respectively. Serum nitric oxide （NO） level, blood sugar and amylase activity were detected. Nitric oxide synthase （NOS） test kit was used to detect the pancreas cNOS and inducible NOS （iNOS） activity. Pancreas sections stained with HE and immunohistochemistry were evaluated under a light microscope. RESULTS： As compared with the transplant control group, the serum NO level and amylase activity decreased obviously and the evidence for pancreas injury was much less in the AG group. The AG （80 mg/kg body weight） group showed the most significant difference in NO and amylase （NO： 66.0 ± 16.6 vs 192.3 ± 60.0, P 〈 0.01 and amylase： 1426 ± 177 vs 4477± 630, P 〈 0.01）. The expression and activity of tissue iNOS, and blood sugar in the AG （80 mg/kg body weight） group were much lower than those in the transplant control group （iNOS： 2.01 ± 0.23 vs 26.59 ±5.78, P 〈 0.01 and blood sugar： 14.2 ±0.9 vs 16.8 ± 1.1, P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： Selective iNOS inhibitor, aminoguanidine as a free radical, has a protective effect on pancreas transplantation in rats by inhibiting NO and reducing its toxicity.     

Angiotensin II inhibition during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion in dogs: effects on leukocyte infiltration, nitric oxide synthase isoenzymes activity and left ventricular ejection fraction

Leukocyte infiltration and activation in myocardial reperfusion injury may be modulated by nitric oxide synthase isoforms. Angiotensin II influences leukocyte activation directly or by nitric oxide generation mechanisms. The effects of angiotensin II inhibition before reperfusion on myocardial function, leukocyte accumulation and nitric oxide synthase were evaluated on three groups of eight dogs. They were submitted to occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 90 min, followed by 120 min of reperfusion. The first group received captopril, the second losartan and the third received normal saline solution. Left ventricular ejection fraction significantly improved after reperfusion in the groups under captopril (15±5.1%, p=0.029) and losartan (16±4.3%, p=0.014) when compared to the control group (7±2.5%). Myeloperoxidase activity was significantly lower in captopril group (6.6±1.0 U/100 mg, p=0,036) and losartan (6.8±1.7 U/100 mg, p=0.044) than in the control group (12.5±4.7 U/100 mg). Significant difference on constitutive nitric oxide synthase activity was not observed when all three groups were compared simultaneously (10.1±1.8 versus 8.5±1.3 versus 7.3±1.9 fM/mg/min, p=0.447). Inducible nitric oxide synthase activity was significantly lower in the losartan group (9.0±4.1 fM/mg/min) than in the captopril (29.2±5.1 fM/mg/min, p=0.0001) and control groups (26.2±4.6 fM/mg/min, p=0.0001). Angiotensin II inhibition reduced leukocyte infiltration and improved left ventricular ejection fraction during reperfusion by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition or by angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker. This was observed without influencing the constitutive nitric oxide synthase activity. Only losartan reduced inducible nitric oxide synthase activity but did not influence the leukocyte infiltration and myocardial contractile function.