Role of nitric oxide in neurally induced cerebroarterial relaxation.

Transmural electrical stimulation and nicotine produced a relaxation of dog cerebral artery strips denuded of endothelium, which was abolished by tetrodotoxin and hexamethonium, respectively, and also suppressed by treatment with NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NA), a nitric oxide (NO) synthesis inhibitor. The inhibition was reversed by L-arginine but not by the D-enantiomer. L-NA also suppressed the endothelium-dependent relaxation by substance P but not the response to NO and nitroglycerin. Treatment with high concentrations of nitroglycerin or sodium nitroprusside markedly inhibited the relaxant response to nicotine, substance P and NO but not the response to papaverine. Slight, slowly developing relaxations caused by L-arginine in the endothelium-denuded arteries were not potentiated by repeated applications of the amino acid or by exposure of the strips for 24 hr to the bathing medium. Ca++ ionophore-induced contractions in the denuded strips were not potentiated by L-NA. Nicotine significantly increased the level of cyclic GMP in the arteries without endothelium; the increment was abolished by treatment with L-NA and hexamethonium. NO does not seem to be synthesized in smooth muscle in an amount sufficient to produce significant relaxation. It may be concluded that NO liberated from vasodilator nerves activates guanylate cyclase in smooth muscle and produces cyclic GMP, resulting in cerebroarterial relaxation.     

Nicotine-induced relaxation in isolated canine cerebral arteries.

Nicotine in concentrations ranging from 5 times 10- minus 6 to 10- minus 4 M caused a transient relaxation in strips of isolated canine basilar, middle cerebral and posterior cerebral arteries contracted with prostaglandin F2a (PGF). Transmural neural stimulation did not produce changes in the tension of these arteries. Tyramine contracted the arterial strips. Relaxation induced by nicotine was markedly attenuated by hexamethonium (10- minus 5 M), cocaine (10- minus 5M), bretylium (2 times 10- minus 5 M), sotalol (5 times 10- minus 5 M), propranolol (10- minus 6 M) and removal of Ca-++ from the bathing media. Relaxation was not significantly influenced by atropine, physostigmine, ouabain, tetrodotoxin, aminophylline and sotalol (10- minus 5 M). In cerebral arterial strips, the addition of K-+ also elicited a transient relaxation which was abolished by treatment with ouabain but not with other blocking agents. In mesenteric arterial strips, nicotine caused a transient contraction as did transmural stimulation. The nicotine-induced contraction was markedly attenuated or completely abolished by hexamethonium, cocaine, bretylium and phentolamine and also high concentration of sotalol (5 times 10- minus 5 M), and propranolol. Tetrodotoxin did not affect the contractile response to nicotine but did abolish the response to transmural stimulation. It is strongly suggested that relaxation induced by nicotine in cerebral arterial strips is the result of a specific action on nicotinic receptors as is the contraction observed in mesenteric arteries. It appears that beta adrenergic and cholinergic mechanisms do not play major roles in the genesis of nicotine-induced relaxation nor does it appear that an electrogenic Na-+ pump mechanism is involved.     

The relaxation induced by S-nitroso-glutathione and S-nitroso-N-acetylcysteine in rat aorta is not related to nitric oxide production.

S-nitroso-glutathione (GSNO) and S-nitroso-N-acetylcysteine (NACysNO) are nitrosothiols that release nitric oxide (NO) and mimic the effects of endogenous NO. This study investigated the relaxation induced by GSNO and NACysNO in rat aorta and the relation between relaxation and NO formation. Both compounds at concentrations from 10(-9) M to 10(-4) M relaxed the rat aorta in a concentration-dependent manner. However, NO production depended on the concentration of nitrosothiols present and was detected only above 100 microM GSNO or NACysNO. To determine whether K+ channels are involved in the relaxation induced by nitrosothiols, the contractions were induced with KCl at concentrations of 30, 60, or 90 mM. The concentration-effect curves for the relaxation induced by nitrosothiols were shifted to the right for all the K+ concentrations compared with aortas precontracted with phenylephrine. These results indicate the participation of K+ channels in the relaxation induced by GSNO and NACysNO. A selective inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase, 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one, significantly inhibited the relaxation induced by the nitrosothiols. The relaxation induced by GSNO and NACysNO was inhibited by the K+ channel blockers glibenclamide, selective K(ATP) channels, and apamin, selective for low-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels in rat aorta, but was not inhibited by charybdotoxin, a potent and selective Ca2+-activated K+ channel blocker, or by 4-aminopyridine, a voltage-gated K+ channel blocker. These results indicate that relaxation induced by GSNO and NACysNO is partially due to activation of K(ATP) channels and partially due to activation of low-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels. However, the ability of the nitrosothiol compounds to overcome the inhibitory effect of high extracellular K+ concentrations suggests another mechanism of relaxation contributing to the nitrosothiol response. The most intriguing finding is that relaxation is not related to the NO produced in rat aorta.     

Caveolae dysfunction contributes to impaired relaxation induced by nitric oxide donor in aorta from renal hypertensive rats

Relaxation induced by nitric oxide (NO) donors is impaired in renal hypertensive two kidney-one clip (2K-1C) rat aortas. It has been proposed that caveolae are important in signal transduction and Ca2+ homeostasis. Therefore, in the present study we investigate the integrity of caveolae in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), as well as their influence on the effects produced by NO released from both the new NO donor [Ru(NH.NHq) (terpy)NO+]3+ (TERPY) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on 2K-1C rat aorta. The potency of both TERPY and SNP was lower in the 2K-1C aorta that in the normotensive aorta [two kidney (2K)], whereas the maximal relaxant effect (ME) was similar in both 2K-1C and 2K aortas. In the 2K aorta, methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (CD) reduced both the potency of TERPY and SNP, and their ME compared with the control, but it had no effect on the potency and ME of these NO donors in 2K-1C aortas. The decrease in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]c) induced by TERPY was larger in 2K than in 2K-1C cells, and this effect was inhibited by CD in 2K cells only. Aortic VSMCs from 2K rats presented a larger number of caveolae than those from 2K-1C rats. Treatment with CD reduced the number of caveolae in both 2K and 2K-1C aortic VSMCs. Our results support the idea that caveolae play a critical role in the relaxant effect and in the decrease in [Ca2+]c induced by NO, and they could be responsible for impaired aorta relaxation by NO in renal hypertensive rats.     

Immune dysfunction in endotoxicosis: role of nitric oxide produced by inducible nitric oxide synthase

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) alters cytokine production by splenocytes in mice and whether it changes the T-helper 1 (Th1)/Th2 balance. The role of nitric oxide in such immunologic changes was also explored using mice with genetic lack of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). DESIGN:: Prospective animal study with concurrent controls. SETTING: University research laboratory. SUBJECTS: iNOS knockout mice and wild-type littermates. INTERVENTIONS: iNOS knockout mice or wild-type mice were injected with LPS or saline with or without anti-interleukin (IL)-6 antibody, and survival was monitored for 7 days. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: At 24 and 48 hrs after administration, blood samples and splenocytes were obtained to examine immunologic variables. Cell surface markers and cytokine expression of splenocytes were used to characterize the Th1/Th2 balance and were measured by flow cytometry. At 48 hrs after LPS administration, the Th1/Th2 balance shifted toward Th2 predominance in wild-type mice, irrespective of the IL-6 level, whereas it showed Th1 predominance in iNOS knockout mice, and the increase of IL-6 and IL-10 in response to LPS persisted in these animals. After LPS administration, the mortality rate was significantly higher in iNOS knockout mice than in wild-type mice, irrespective of the IL-6 level. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that nitric oxide produced by iNOS during endotoxemia may be involved in down-regulation of Th1 cytokines and up-regulation of Th2 cytokines, whereas IL-6 has no such role. The increased lethality of LPS in iNOS knockout mice suggests that nitric oxide may be protective against proinflammatory cytokine-induced damage. Nitric oxide excess may increase susceptibility to nosocomial infections, so-called immunoparalysis.     

Spontaneous liberation of nitric oxide cannot account for in vitro vascular relaxation by S-nitrosothiols

S-nitrosothiols are potent vasodilators in vivo and in vitro, and have recently been proposed as possible endogenous precursors of endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO). NO release from S-nitrosothiols has generally been assumed to be spontaneous, but this has not been proven. This hypothesis was examined by altering the NO release profiles of two S-nitrosothiols, those of S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) and S-nitroso-glutathione (GSNO), and observing their relaxation potency on isolated endothelium-denuded rat aortic rings. Spontaneous degradation of SNAP and GSNO in tissue bathing medium (monitored by high-performance liquid chromatography) and the associated NO release (assessed by chemiluminescence detection of headspace NO) were enhanced in the presence of 100 microM N-acetylpenicillamine and inhibited in the presence of 100 U/ml superoxide dismutase. However, the relaxant effects of SNAP and GSNO were enhanced in the presence of superoxide dismutase, and diminished in the presence of N-acetylpenicillamine. In addition, the relaxation potencies of SNAP, GSNO, S-nitrosocystein, S-nitroso-N-acetylcysteine and S-nitroso-coenzyme A were not correlated with spontaneous NO generation. These findings therefore argue against spontaneous liberation of NO as a predominant mechanism of S-nitrosothiol action. The highly polar SNAP, GSNO, S-nitrosocysteine and S-nitroso-N-acetylcysteine (octanol, pH 7.4 buffer partition coefficient from less than .025-.052) and the bulky and polar S-nitroso-coenzyme A (MW 797) have similar relaxation potencies, indicating that intracellular penetration of intact S-nitrosothiols may not be required for activity. NO generation from SNAP was examined in subcellular fractions of bovine coronary arterial smooth muscle cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Hyposerotonin-induced nitric oxide supersensitivity in the cerebral microcirculation

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between hyposerotonin and cranial microvascular responses to nitric oxide (NO). BACKGROUND: Although the mechanism underlying NO supersensitivity in migraine is still unclear, an alteration of the serotonin system is a possible explanation. METHODS: Wistar rats were divided into control and hyposerotonin groups. Serotonin was depleted by intraperitoneal injection with 300 mg/kg of para-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA), a tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor. Three days after PCPA pretreatment, the animals were prepared for assessment of their NO-induced vasomotor response using glyceryl trinitrate (GTN: 8 to 10 mg/kg, intravenously) as an NO donor. Pial circulation was visualized by the intravital fluorescein videomicroscopic technique. Images of vessels at 0, 5, 15, 30, and 60 minutes post GTN infusion were digitized and measured. At the end of monitoring, the rat brains were removed for ultrastructural study of the brain microvessels. RESULTS: Infusion of GTN produced dose-dependent pial arteriolar dilatation. This vasodilator effect was significantly increased in the PCPA-treated groups, especially at 30 and 60 minutes. The percentage change from baseline diameter at 30 minutes after the 8-mg/kg GTN infusion was 42.6 +/- 3.1 for the hyposerotonin group and 16.8 +/- 2.9 for the control group (P<.001). Electron microscopic study revealed that exposure to the NO donor produced considerable changes in cerebral microvessels, characterized by focal ballooning of endothelial cells, increased microvillous formation, and increased endothelial pinocytosis. These anatomical changes were significantly more prominent in the hyposerotonin group. CONCLUSIONS: A hyposerotoninergic condition can facilitate the NO-induced physiological and pathological responses in meningeal and cerebral microvessels and, therefore, is a possible explanation for the supersensitivity to NO observed in patients with migraine.     

大鼠创伤性脑水肿一氧化氮及其合成酶的变化

目的：探讨脑损伤后一氧化氮（ＮＯ）及一氧化氮合酶（ＮＯＳ）与脑水肿的关系。方法：建立大鼠创伤性脑水肿模型,按不同时间点处死动物,测定其脑含水量及静脉血ＮＯ 和脑组织中ＮＯＳ。结果：脑创伤后脑含水量随静脉血ＮＯ的增加而增加,组织ＮＯＳ则随ＮＯ 的增加而下降。结论：创伤性脑水肿与血ＮＯ 有密切相关性,组织中ＮＯＳ则是该过程的可能催化剂     

Possible modulatory role of nitric oxide in lung toxicity induced in rats by chronic administration of bleomycin

BACKGROUND: The present study was undertaken to evaluate whether stimulation or inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis could affect lung toxicity induced by chronic administration of bleomycin (BLM). L-arginine (ARG) and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) were employed as NO precursor and NO synthesis inhibitor, respectively. METHODS: BLM was administered intraperitoneally to male Wistar rats at a dose of 15 mg/kg, 3 times a week, for a total period of 4 weeks. ARG (500 mg/kg/day) and L-NAME (100 mg/kg/day) were given in drinking water, the treatments commenced with BLM and continued up to the end of the experiment. Appropriate controls were performed. RESULTS: BLM treatment resulted in a pronounced fall in the average body weight of animals, together with a rise in the lung weight/body weight ratio. In the lung tissue, elevated levels of hydroxyproline (HP) and lipid peroxides (LP) as well as decreased activity of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) further evidenced the toxicity. Pulmonary level of NO end products, nitrite and nitrate, tended to rise but did not reach a significant level. Glutathione (GSH) content and GSH-peroxidase activity measured in the lung remained unaltered. In animals given concurrent treatment of BLM and ARG, a remarkable rise in the pulmonary level of nitrite and nitrate was observed. Average body weight was still decreased when compared with the untreated control group, but the decrease was significantly less than that observed in the BLM group. In addition, ARG decreased the extent of BLM-induced elevations of lung HP and LP levels. Meanwhile, ARG failed to significantly affect the BLM-evoked decrease in pulmonary ACE activity and increase in lung weight/body weight ratio. In animals given simultaneous treatment of BLM and L-NAME, noticeable reductions in the pulmonary levels of nitrite/nitrate and GSH were detected. BLM-induced decrease in body weight and increase in lung weight/body weight ratio were accentuated by L-NAME co-treatment. Furthermore, administration of L-NAME led to more profound elevations in lung HP and LP levels, without affecting the decrease in pulmonary ACE activity elicited by BLM. CONCLUSION: In principle, the present findings indicate that the lung toxicity exerted by chronic administration of BLM is alleviated by ARG, but exacerbated by L-NAME supplementation. This could indicate a possible protective role of NO.     

超声联合微泡作用下即时产生非酶化一氧化氮的实验

背景:一氧化氮是体内重要的气体信号分子,近年来研究发现一氧化氮可以在无一氧化氮合成酶存在的条件下合成,即非酶化一氧化氮合成,而非酶化途径合成一氧化氮,可能是许多生物学效应的机制之一.目的:观察超声联合微泡是否可以实现或者增效一氧化氮非酶途径的产生.方法:将L-精氨酸和H2O2按照1:1,10:1,10:0.1,1:10的比例混合,应用频率为1 MHz,输出功率为0.5,1.0,1.5 W/cm2的超声分别持续辐射60 s,论证最优的L-精氨酸和H2O2的浓度比例以及最适的超声输出功率.确定最适浓度比和超声输出功率后,实验设立4组,分别进行超声联合微泡、单纯超声、微泡进行干预,空白对照组不进行干预,比较各组一氧化氮生成量.结果与结论:体外试验中,L-精氨酸和H2O2的浓度比例以10:1为最佳,选择1.5 W/cm2声强作为超声最优值.以此最适浓度比和超声输出功率干预,超声联合微泡组的一氧化氮生成量多于超声组(P < 0.01);超声组一氧化氮生成量优于空白对照组(P < 0.01);而微泡组的一氧化氮生成量与空白对照组没有差异.结果表明超声联合微泡可以增效一氧化氮的非酶合成.     

Increased production of nitric oxide in coronary arteries during congestive heart failure.

Experiments were designed to determine whether a heterogeneity of endothelium-dependent relaxations in arteries from different vascular beds exists in experimental congestive heart failure (CHF) and to determine the mediators of those responses. CHF was produced in dogs by rapid ventricular pacing for 15 d. Rings of coronary, femoral, and renal arteries with and without endothelium from control and CHF dogs were suspended in organ chambers for measurement of isometric force. In arteries contracted with prostaglandin F2 alpha, endothelium-dependent relaxations to BHT 920 (an alpha 2-adrenergic agonist) were increased in coronary arteries from dogs with CHF (maximal relaxation: control -15 +/- 9% vs CHF -92 +/- 5%; n = 5-6; P < 0.05), with a modest enhancement in renal arteries. Relaxations to adenosine diphosphate and the calcium ionophore were unchanged. Relaxations to BHT 920 in CHF were reduced by NG monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) and pertussis toxin but not by indomethacin. These data suggest that endothelium-dependent relaxations are affected heterogeneously in CHF. The enhanced response to alpha 2-adrenergic agonists in the coronary artery is mediated by nitric oxide through a mechanism sensitive to inhibition by pertussis toxin. This selective increase in endothelium-dependent relaxations in the coronary artery may contribute to preserving coronary blood flow during CHF.     

超声联合微泡作用下即时产生非酶化一氧化氮的实验

背景：一氧化氮是体内重要的气体信号分子,近年来研究发现一氧化氮可以在无一氧化氮合成酶存在的条件下合成,即非酶化一氧化氮合成,而非酶化途径合成一氧化氮,可能是许多生物学效应的机制之一。目的：观察超声联合微泡是否可以实现或者增效一氧化氮非酶途径的产生。方法：将L-精氨酸和H2O2按照1︰1,10︰1,10︰0.1,1︰10的比例混合,应用频率为1MHz,输出功率为0.5,1.0,1.5W/cm2的超声分别持续辐射60s,论证最优的L-精氨酸和H2O2的浓度比例以及最适的超声输出功率。确定最适浓度比和超声输出功率后,实验设立4组,分别进行超声联合微泡、单纯超声、微泡进行干预,空白对照组不进行干预,比较各组一氧化氮生成量。结果与结论：体外试验中,L-精氨酸和H2O2的浓度比例以10︰1为最佳,选择1.5W/cm2声强作为超声最优值。以此最适浓度比和超声输出功率干预,超声联合微泡组的一氧化氮生成量多于超声组（P〈0.01）;超声组一氧化氮生成量优于空白对照组（P〈0.01）;而微泡组的一氧化氮生成量与空白对照组没有差异。结果表明超声联合微泡可以增效一氧化氮的非酶合成。     

糖皮质激素对戊四氮致痫大鼠脑内一氧化氮合酶表达的影响

目的探讨糖皮质激素（GC）对致痫大鼠大脑皮质脑内一氧化氮合酶（NOS）表达的影响。方法本实验用免疫印迹技术和图像分析技术观察了经GC预处理后致痫大鼠行为学的改变与脑内NOS表达的变化。结果戊四氮组大脑皮质内NOS含量明显高于对照组，戊四氮＋GC组和GC组大脑皮质内NOS含量明显低于对照组，二者均有显著性差异（P〈0．05）。结论糖皮质激素具有明显的抑制NOS表达的作用和抗痫效应。     

Increased superoxide anion production by interleukin-1beta impairs nitric oxide-mediated relaxation in resistance arteries

The present study was designed to analyze the effect of long-term incubation with interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) on endothelium-dependent relaxation in rat mesenteric resistance arteries. Vessels were incubated in culture medium with or without IL-1beta (10 ng/ml, 14 h). Changes in lumen diameter were recorded in a pressure myograph. Protein expression, nitrite, and superoxide anion (O(2)(.)) production were evaluated by either Western blot or immunofluorescence, Griess reaction, and ethidium fluorescence, respectively. IL-1beta impaired acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) vasodilation and increased nitrite and O(2)(.) production and inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS), xanthine oxidase, and p22(phox) expression. However, neither endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) nor soluble guanylate cyclase protein expression were affected by IL-1beta treatment. Polyethylene glycol superoxide dismutase partially reversed the impairment of ACh relaxation and abolished the O(2)(.) production observed in IL-1beta-treated arteries. The impairment of ACh relaxation induced by IL-1beta was also partially reversed by the xanthine oxidase inhibitor allopurinol (1 mM) but not by either the NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin (0.3 mM) or the inducible NOS inhibitor N-3-aminomethylbenzylacetamidine (1 microM). However, all these inhibitors improved the impaired SNP response. The results of the present study demonstrate that long-term incubation with IL-1beta induces an impairment of the nitric oxide-mediated relaxation in mesenteric resistance arteries through the production of O(2)(.), mainly from xanthine oxidase.     

Aging alters neuronal nitric oxide release from rat mesenteric arteries: role of presynaptic beta-adrenoceptors

This study examines the influence of aging on the neuronal nitric oxide (NO) and noradrenaline (NA) release elicited by electrical field stimulation (EFS; 200 mA, 0.3 ms, 1-16 Hz, 30 s) in endothelium-denuded mesenteric arteries from young and old rats, as well as the influence of the presynaptic beta-adrenoceptors in that release. EFS induced frequency-dependent contractions. N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) only enhanced EFS-elicited contractions in arteries from young rats. Capsaicin did not alter the EFS-induced contractions in either age group. Clenbuterol did not modify the contraction elicited by EFS in arteries from young or old rats either. A subsequent addition of l-NAME also induced an increase in the EFS-induced response in arteries from both age groups. In old rats, the presence of propranolol did not alter the response induced by EFS, and the subsequent addition of clenbuterol or clenbuterol plus l-NAME did not affect this response. In precontracted segments, sodium nitroprusside or clenbuterol induced similar relaxation in both age groups. None of the drugs used altered the response to exogenous NA or basal tone. In arteries preincubated with [(3)H]NA, EFS induced (3)H release, which remained unmodified in the presence of clenbuterol or propranolol in young rats, whereas clenbuterol increased the (3)H overflow in old rats, and this effect was abolished by propranolol. These drugs did not alter the basal (3)H efflux and indicate that in rat mesenteric arteries EFS induces NA release in both age groups, and only NO release in young animals. Activation of presynaptic beta-adrenoceptors increased NA and probably NO release in aged rats.     

The role of nitric oxide in nociception

Pharmacologic, electrophysiologic, and immunohistochemical studies have suggested a role of nitric oxide (NO) in nociception processing. Recent studies have indicated that NO may modulate spinal and sensory neuron excitability through multiple mechanisms that may underlie its distinctive roles in different pain states. Differential regulation of a family of NO-producing enzymes, NO synthases, contributes mainly to the complexity underlying the role of NO in nociception. This review summarizes the latest advances in our understanding of the contribution of NO to pain transduction. Possible cellular mechanisms regarding the connection between NO production and the abnormal sensation derived from different stimuli and pathologic conditions are discussed.     

The role of nitric oxide synthase/nitric oxide in vascular smooth muscle control

Vascular compliance is dependent on endogenous and exogenous sources of nitric oxide (NO). In a discussion of therapeutics and NO derived via nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzymes, it is necessary to examine the pathways of each drug to provide the clinical perfusionist with a greater understanding of the role of NOS/NO in vascular function. Endothelial-derived NO is a contributor in the vasoregulation of vascular smooth muscle. Therapeutics seek to mimic the vasodilatory effects of the endogenous NO. The therapeutics included in this review are nitroglycerin, nitroprusside, amyl nitrite, and inhalation of NO. L-Arginine supplementation provides additional substrate for the endogenous pathway that can augment NO production. NO is a small bioactive molecule involved in various biochemical pathways. Dysregulation of NO production can impair normal physiologic control of vascular compliance. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to provide the perfusionist with an understanding of the biochemical and pharmacological aspects of NOS/NO associated with vascular function.