Leukocyte-derived inducible nitric oxide synthase mediates murine postoperative ileus

OBJECTIVE: To provide evidence that iNOS expression solely in leukocytes plays a role in postoperative ileus. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Intestinal handling initiates a molecular and cellular muscularis inflammation that has been associated with iNOS expression and ileus. The specific cellular source of iNOS is a matter of speculation. METHODS: Chimeric mice were constructed that selectively express the iNOS gene only in their leukocytes or only in their parenchymal cells by lethal radiation and reconstitution with reciprocal bone marrow. Mild intestinal manipulation was used to induce postoperative ileus. RESULTS: Intestinal manipulation caused a significant leukocyte extravasation into the muscularis of all groups. Postoperative iNOS mRNA expression was evident in iNOS and transplanted iNOS mice with iNOS bone marrow but not in iNOS animals. The loss of the iNOS gene in leukocytes of iNOS mice reduced iNOS mRNA expression by 59%. iNOS-deficient mice and iNOS animals with iNOS leukocytes presented with a significant improvement in postoperative intestinal transit and in vitro smooth muscle contractility, whereas the replacement with iNOS bone marrow in iNOS mice completely reversed this improvement. CONCLUSION: These results clearly show that iNOS expressed in leukocytes within the intestinal muscularis plays a major role in mediating smooth muscle dysfunction and subsequently postoperative ileus.     

Inducible nitric oxide synthase in renal transplantation

The importance of the endothelial isoform of nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) has been well established. Endothelium-derived nitric oxide has been shown to be essential for vascular homeostasis and modulation of eNOS has thus become a target in prevention of cardiovascular disease. The role of the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in vascular biology, however, is less clear. Classically, iNOS has been regarded as an enzyme that produces nmolar amounts of the nitric oxide radical, thereby leading to cellular damage. More recent data, however, have shown that the iNOS can be a superoxide, peroxynitrite as well as a nitric oxide-producing enzyme, while the biological effects of iNOS probably depend upon the sort of radical species released by the enzyme as well as the anti-oxidant capacity of the cellular microenvironment of the enzyme. This brief review discusses these aspects in relation to renal transplantation.     

Inducible nitric oxide synthase attenuates endothelium-dependent renal microvascular vasodilation

Previous studies have demonstrated that inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) plays a key pathophysiologic role during sepsis. The present study was designed to delineate the consequences of iNOS activation on renal microvascular function. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given intraperitoneal injections of lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 4 mg/kg) at 16 h and 4 h before experimentation. Afferent and efferent arteriolar diameters from LPS-treated and control rats were assessed in vitro with the use of the blood perfused juxtamedullary nephron technique. Basal afferent and efferent arteriolar diameters of LPS-treated rats averaged 19.7 +/- 0.9 (n = 7) and 18.3 +/- 1.0 microm (n = 5), respectively, and were similar to those of control rats (20.8 +/- 0.3 [n = 6] and 18.4 +/- 0.6 microm [n = 6], respectively). Superfusion with the selective iNOS inhibitor S,S'-(1,3-phenylenebis[1,2-ethanediyl]) bisisothiourea (PBIT), at the doses of 0.01, 0.1, and 1 microM, significantly decreased afferent and efferent arteriolar diameters in a dose-dependent manner, whereas afferent or efferent arteriolar diameters of control rats were not altered in response to the same doses of PBIT. In the second series of experiments, superfusion with 10 microM acetylcholine (ACh) significantly increased afferent and efferent arteriolar diameters of LPS-treated rats by 14.9 +/- 1.6% (n = 9) and 6.6 +/- 1.1% (n = 6), respectively. The ACh-induced afferent and efferent arteriolar dilator responses were inhibited by superfusion with the nonselective NOS inhibitor N:(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (100 microM). However, afferent and efferent arteriolar dilator responses to ACh were significantly enhanced during selective iNOS inhibition with 1 microM PBIT (40.1 +/- 0.7% and 25.2 +/- 1.3%, respectively). These results suggest that activation of iNOS by LPS increases the influence of nitric oxide on afferent and efferent arteriolar tone and impairs endothelium-dependent nitric oxide effects.     

大鼠肝缺血／再灌注后肝组织一氧化氮和不同亚型一氧化氮合酶的变化

目的探讨一氧化氮（NO）和一氧化氮合成酶（NOS）在肝缺血／再灌注（I／R）过程中的变化和作用。方法健康雄性SD大鼠24只，随机分为3组（每组8只）：①正常对照组，术中只分离肝周围韧带，不做肝门阻断及再灌注。②I/R组，进行45min的部分肝门阻断及60min的再灌注。③L-精氨酸（L—Arg）组，缺血前20min经阴茎背静脉注射L—Arg（300mg／kg），余同②组。实验结束后，取下腔静脉血2ml，并迅速切取缺血肝组织。检测血清丙氨酸转氨酶（ALT）、门冬氨酸转氨酶（AST）、乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）；测定肝组织中超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、丙二醛（MDA）、黄嘌呤氧化酶（XOD）、一氧化氮（NO）和一氧化氯合成酶（NOS）等指标；观察光镜和电镜下肝组织学变化。结果与正常对照组相比，I／R组iNOS升高，NO降低；L-Arg组NO、eNOS均高于I／R组。2、3组比1组大鼠的肝组织病理损害重、肝功能差，L—Arg组病理损害较I／R组明显减轻、肝功能改善。结论NO对大鼠肝I／R损伤具有保护作用．不同亚型NOS的变化参与其中。     

Inducible nitric oxide synthase knockout mice are resistant to diet-induced loss of gut barrier function and intestinal injury

Loss of gut barrier function has been documented to occur in animals receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and certain liquid diets. However, the mechanisms responsible for diet-induced gut barrier dysfunction remain to be fully determined. Thus we tested the hypothesis that increased intestinal nitric oxide production contributes to this phenomenon. To test this hypothesis, iNO S-deficient (iNOS -/-) mice and their wild-type littermates (iNOS +/+) were fed either chow or TPN solution for 14 days. Subsequently they were killed and gut barrier function was assessed by measuring bacterial translocation to the mesenteric lymph node (MLN) complex. Additionally, intestinal bacterial population levels, gut morphology, plasma and intestinal nitric oxide levels, as well as intestinal levels of the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzymes cNOS and iNOS, were measured. Bacterial translocation occurred in the iNOS +/+ but not the iNOS -/- mice receiving oral TPN solution. Oral TPN-induced bacterial translocation was associated with increased intestinal bacterial population levels as well as morphologic evidence of intestinal injury. Plasma and intestinal levels of the nitric oxide products, nitrite/nitrate, were increased in the iNOS +/+ mice fed the TPN solution but not in the chow-fed groups or the iNOS -/- mice receiving TPN solution. Last, intestinal iNOS, but not cNOS, activity was increased in the iNOS +/+ oral TPN-fed mice. These results implicate a role for increased intestinal nitric oxide production, through iNOS, in the pathogenesis of oral TPN-induced gut barrier dysfunction and injury.     

Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase reduces renal ischemia/reperfusion injury

BACKGROUND: The role of nitric oxide (NO) production because of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the pathogenesis of renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is unclear. In this study the roles of both iNOS and NO were characterized in a rat model of renal I/R injury. In addition, the effect of iNOS inhibition on renal function was evaluated. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats underwent 45 min of left renal ischemia and contralateral nephrectomy followed by various periods of reperfusion and renal function analysis [plasma creatinine, fractional excretion of sodium (FENa), creatinine clearance (CrCl), and measurement of plasma and urine NO levels]. In addition, the effect of treatment with 1400W, a highly selective iNOS inhibitor, was evaluated. RESULTS: Renal dysfunction peaked at 48 h after reperfusion and immunohistochemistry studies revealed iNOS expression in the vasculature (3 h) and renal tubules (48 h) after reperfusion. Renal function improved significantly in treated animals compared to controls [creatinine of 1.1 v. 1.9 mg/dl (P < 0.05) and CrCl of 0.54 v. 0.31 ml/min (P < 0.05), respectively]. In addition, FENa was decreased by 50%, plasma NO levels were significantly lower (32.7 v. 45.7 micromol/L, P < 0.01), and deposition of nitrotyosine in the tubules of treated rats was less than in control animals. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the hypothesis that iNOS and NO are involved in the pathogenesis of renal I/R injury and suggests that use of iNOS inhibitors may be a valuable therapeutic strategy clinical situations where renal I/R may be prevalent.     

Neuronal nitric oxide synthase mediates halothane-induced cerebral microvascular dilation

BACKGROUND: The causes of volatile anesthetic-induced cerebral vasodilation include direct effects on smooth muscle and indirect effects via changes in metabolic rate and release of mediators from vascular endothelium and brain parenchyma. The role of nitric oxide and the relative importance of neuronal and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (nNOS and eNOS, respectively) are unclear. METHODS: Rat brain slices were superfused with oxygenated artificial cerebrospinal fluid. Hippocampal arteriolar diameters were measured using computerized videomicrometry. Vessels were preconstricted with prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha; halothane group) or pretreated with 7-nitroindazole sodium (7-NINA, specific nNOS inhibitor, 7-NINA + halothane group) or N-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME; nonselective NOS inhibitor, L-NAME + halothane group) and subsequently given PGF2alpha to achieve the same total preconstriction as in the halothane group. Increasing concentrations of halothane were administered and vasodilation was calculated as a percentage of preconstriction. RESULTS: Halothane caused significant, dose-dependent dilation of hippocampal microvessels (halothane group). Inhibition of nNOS by 7-NINA or nNOS + eNOS by L-NAME similarly attenuated halothane-induced dilation at 0.6, 1.6, and 2.6% halothane. The dilation (mean +/- SEM) at 1.6% halothane was 104 +/- 10%, 65 +/- 6%, and 51 +/- 9% in the halothane, 7-NINA + halothane and L-NAME + halothane groups, respectively. The specificity of 7-NINA was confirmed by showing that acetylcholine-induced dilation was not inhibited by 7-NINA but was converted to constriction by L-NAME. CONCLUSIONS: At clinically relevant concentrations, halothane potently dilates intracerebral arterioles. This dilation is mediated, in part, by neuronally derived nitric oxide. Endothelial NOS does not play a major role in halothane-induced dilation of hippocampal microvessels.     

体外培养的人腹主动脉瘤血管平滑肌细胞中一氧化氮的生成和诱生型一氧化氮合酶的表达

目的探讨体外培养的人腹主动脉瘤 (AAA)血管平滑肌细胞 (SMC)及其表达诱生型一氧化氮合酶 (iNOS)和培养液中生成一氧化氮 (NO)的情况。方法 0 0 2 %Ⅰ型胶原酶消化法进行AAA SMC原代培养 ,平滑肌α 肌动蛋白 (α SMA)鉴定SMC并绘制AAA SMC的增殖曲线 ;免疫细胞化学方法检测AAA SMC中iNOS蛋白的表达 ,并测定原代及 2代细胞培养液中亚硝酸盐和硝酸盐的浓度之和 (NO2 - NO3 -,NOX)。结果酶消化法成功培养AAA SMC ,α SMA阳性率为 4 5 %± 5 8% ,传代培养发现AAA SMC增殖力有限 ;AAA SMC中iNOS蛋白阳性率 86 7%± 4 6 % ,细胞培养液中存在高浓度的NOX。结论AAA SMC存在异常增殖但增殖力有限 ,且细胞可能存在表型变化 ;AAA SMC中iNOS蛋白的高表达及NO的过量生成 ,提示由SMC生成的过量NO可能在腹主动脉瘤发病机制中具有重要作用。     

Inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase reduces renal ischemia/reperfusion injury

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO), produced via inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), is implicated in the pathophysiology of renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the iNOS inhibitors L-N6-(1-iminoethyl)lysine (L-NIL) and aminoethyl-isothiourea (AE-ITU) on (a) renal dysfunction and injury mediated by bilateral I/R of rat kidneys in vivo and (b) cytokine-stimulated NO production by primary cultures of rat proximal tubule (PT) cells.METHODS: Male Wistar rats subjected to bilateral renal ischemia (45 min) followed by reperfusion (6 h). Rats were administered either L-NIL (3 mg/kg IV bolus 15 min prior to I/R followed by 1 mg/kg/h throughout I/R) or AE-ITU (1 mg/kg IV bolus 15 min prior to I/R followed by 1 mg/kg/h throughout I/R). Serum and urinary biochemical indicators of renal dysfunction and injury were measured; serum creatinine (SCr, glomerular dysfunction), fractional excretion of Na+ (FENa, tubular dysfunction), serum aspartate aminotransferase (sAST, I/R injury) and urinary N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase (uNAG, tubular injury). Additionally, renal sections were used for histological grading of renal injury and for immunological evidence of nitrotyrosine formation. Nitrate/nitrate levels in plasma were measured using the Griess assay and used as an indicator of NO production. Primary cultures of rat PT cells were incubated with interferon-gamma(IFN-gamma, 100 IU/mL) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 microg/mL) for 24 h, either in the absence or presence of increasing concentrations of L-NIL or AE-ITU (0.001 to 1 mmol/L) after which nitrite/nitrate levels were measured using the Griess assay.RESULTS: L-NIL and AE-ITU significantly reduced the I/R-mediated increases in SCr, FENa, sAST and uNAG, indicating attenuation of I/R-mediated renal dysfunction and injury. Specifically, L-NIL and AE-ITU reduced the I/R-mediated glomerular and tubular dysfunction and biochemical and histological evidence of tubular injury. Both L-NIL and AE-ITU attenuated the plasma levels of nitrate (indicating reduced NO production) and the immunohistochemical evidence of the formation of nitrotyrosine. In vitro, L-NIL and AE-ITU both significantly reduced cytokine-stimulated NO production by primary cultures of rat PT cells in a dose-dependent manner.CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that L-NIL and AE-ITU reduce the renal dysfunction and injury associated with I/R of the kidney, via inhibition of iNOS activity and subsequent reduction of NO (and peroxynitrite) generation. We propose that selective and specific inhibitors of iNOS activity may be useful against the NO-mediated renal dysfunction and injury associated with I/R of the kidney.     

内皮素及NO在严重烧伤早期胃肠粘膜缺血中的作用

目的　采用３０ ％ Ｔ Ｂ Ｓ Ａ 烧伤小型猪模型,系统观察内皮素及一氧化氮（ Ｅ Ｔ／ Ｎ Ｏ） 在胃肠缺血中的作用,并通过应用 Ｎ Ｏ 供体 Ｃ８７３７５４ 对胃肠缺血防治机制进行探讨。方法　小型猪１８只,随机分为对照组（ Ｃ 组） 、烧伤组（ Ｂ 组） 及 Ｎ Ｏ 供体组（ Ｎ 组） 。 Ｃ 组只手术不致伤,其余各组伤后按 Ｐａｒｋｌａｎｄ 公式进行复苏。 Ｎ 组在复苏同时给予 Ｃ８７３７５４（００１２５ ｍｇ·ｋｇ － １ ·ｍｉｎ － １） 。结果　烧伤后 Ｂ 组在肠道血流量下降的同时,门脉血及肠道组织中的 Ｅ Ｔ 含量迅速升高,于伤后１ｈ 达到峰值,伤后７２ｈ 未能恢复到伤前水平;而同时 Ｎ Ｏ 含量呈相反变化,二者呈显著负相关。 Ｎ 组能使肠道血流量在伤后２４ｈ 内恢复较快,同时发现能升高门脉血及肠道组织内 Ｎ Ｏ 含量。 Ｎ Ｏ Ｓｄ Ｎ Ａ Ｄ Ｐ Ｈ 染色也发现肠组织内密度明显较 Ｂ 组增加。结论　①胃肠道血流量下降与 Ｅ Ｔ／ Ｎ Ｏ 变化有关。② Ｎ Ｏ 供体能通过释放 Ｎ Ｏ,有效地改善胃肠组织血流灌注,对防治胃肠缺血有积极意义。     

内皮素及NO在严重烧伤早期胃肠粘膜缺血中的作用

目的采用30％TBSA 烧伤小型猪模型,系统观察内皮素及一氧化氮(ET/NO)在胃肠缺血中的作用,并通过应用 NO 供体 C87-3754对胃肠缺血防治机制进行探讨。方法小型猪18只,随机分为对照组(C 组)、烧伤组(B 组)及 NO 供体组(N 组)。C 组只手术不致伤,其余各组伤后按 Parkland 公式进行复苏。N 组在复苏同时给予 C87-3754(0.0125mg·kg~(-1)·min~(-))。结果烧伤后 B 组在肠道血流量下降的同时,门脉血及肠道组织中的 ET 含量迅速升高,于伤后1h 达到峰值,伤后72h 未能恢复到伤前水平;而同时 NO 含量呈相反变化,二者呈显著负相关。N 组能使肠道血流量在伤后24h 内恢复较快,同时发现能升高门脉血及肠道组织内 NO 含量。NOS-dNADPH 染色也发现肠组织内密度明显较 B 组增加。结论①胃肠道血流量下降与 ET/NO 变化有关。②NO 供体能通过释放 NO,有效地改善胃肠组织血流灌注,对防治胃肠缺血有积极意义。     

Inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibition in cyclophosphamide induced hemorrhagic cystitis in rats

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is an antineoplastic agent used alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of many neoplastic diseases. Hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) is a major potential toxicity and dose limiting side effect of CP. Recently, it has been shown that endogenous inflammatory mediators are involved in cystitis by increasing nitric oxide (NO) production in target tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between NO and CP induced hemorrhagic cystitis HC in rats. A total of 30 female Spraque-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups. Group 1 served as control, three groups received single dose of CP (100 mg/kg) intraperitoneally (i.p.): group 2 received CP only. Group 3 received the NO precursor L-arginine (80 mg/kg/day), and group 4 received the selective inducible NO synthase (iNOS) inhibitor S-methylisothiourea (SMT; 20 mg/kg/day) before and the day after cyclophosphamide injection. CP injection resulted in severe cystitis. SMT but not L-arginine produced marked inhibition of CP induced bladder damage. We concluded that NO produced by iNOS, is an important mediator in the pathogenesis of CP induced cystitis.     

Inducible nitric oxide synthase promotes pathophysiological consequences of experimental bladder outlet obstruction

PURPOSE: Bladder outlet obstruction leads to histological and functional changes in the bladder over time. We investigated the role of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the progression of pathological changes of the bladder secondary to outlet obstruction in a rat and a mouse model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To assess expression of iNOS in the bladder, polymerase chain reaction amplification of mRNA was done. Rats were subjected to sham operation or partial bladder outlet obstruction. They were given the iNOS inhibitor aminoguanidine in drinking water or unmodified water. After 2 weeks, awake cystometric evaluation was performed, the bladders were harvested and the degree of fibrosis was assessed. In another series of experiments mice deficient in the iNOS gene (iNOS -/-) were compared to WT mice for cystometric as well as histological changes in the bladder following partial bladder outlet obstruction or sham operation. RESULTS: Partial bladder outlet obstruction induced the expression of iNOS mRNA in the mouse bladder. iNOS -/- mice showed a significantly smaller increase in bladder volume at 3 weeks compared with WT. Pharmacological inhibition of iNOS activity significantly attenuated the increase in bladder size and the number of spontaneous bladder contractions in obstructed rats at 2 weeks. Furthermore, genetic and pharmacological decreases in iNOS led to significantly less fibrosis of the bladder after partial bladder outlet obstruction in mice and rats, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacological or genetic decreases in iNOS resulted in amelioration of functional and fibrotic changes in the bladder after partial bladder outlet obstruction, suggesting that NO contributes to the pathophysiology of bladder outlet obstruction.     

Nitric oxide synthase inhibition in rats: melatonin reduces blood pressure and ischemia/reperfusion-induced infarct size

Reduction in the synthesis or bioavailability of nitric oxide plays a significant role in the development of myocardial infarction and hypertension. Numerous studies suggest that melatonin reduces blood pressure (BP) and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. The effects of melatonin on the BP and I/R-induced cardiac infarct size in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats remains unknown. This study was designed to investigate the effects of melatonin on BP and the I/R-induced infarct size in chronic nitric oxide synthase inhibited rats by L-NAME. Rats received L-NAME for 15 days to produce hypertension and melatonin the last 5 days before I/R studies. To produce cardiac damage, the left coronary artery was occluded for 30 min, followed by 120 min reperfusion. L-NAME led to a significant increase in BP. Melatonin administration (10 mg/kg) to L-NAME treated rats significantly reduced BP and infarct size. Also, melatonin attenuated the mortality resulting from I/R, but this was not statistically significant. Melatonin administration would seem important to reduce BP and infarct size resulting from I/R in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats.     

Inducible nitric oxide synthase mediates delayed cardioprotection induced by morphine in vivo: evidence from pharmacologic inhibition and gene-knockout mice

BACKGROUND: It is not known whether morphine induces delayed cardioprotection against ischemia and reperfusion. The authors measured the delayed preconditioning induced by morphine and determined the role of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in mediating this effect using a pharmacological inhibitor and iNOS gene-knockout mice. METHODS: Adult male wild-type and iNOS gene-knockout (B6, 129) mice were treated with morphine (0.3 or 0.1 mg/kg intraperitoneal) or saline. Twenty-four hours later, mice were subjected to 45 min of coronary artery occlusion followed by 120 min of reperfusion. S-methylthiourea sulfate (3 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) was given 30 min before the occlusion to block iNOS. Infarct size as a percentage of the area at risk was determined by triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. iNOS and endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression were measured by Western blot. RESULTS: Infarct size was significantly reduced in wild-type mice from 43.1 +/- 5.3% in the saline group to 22.4 +/- 4.4% in the higher-dose morphine group (0.3 mg/kg) (P < 0.05). This cardioprotective effect was abolished by S-methylthiourea sulfate (43.3 +/- 3.9%) and was absent in iNOS gene-knockout mice (42.3 +/- 4.7%). Pretreatment with the lower dose of morphine (0.1 mg/kg) did not reduce infarct size (41.1 +/- 5.4%). A significant increase in myocardial iNOS expression was observed 24 h after morphine administration (0.3 mg/kg but not 0.1 mg/kg; P < 0.05), whereas endothelial nitric oxide synthase remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS:: Pretreatment with morphine induces delayed cardioprotection in mice. The authors demonstrated an obligatory role for iNOS in mediating morphine-induced delayed cardioprotection.