A dose-response study of nitric oxide synthase inhibition in different vascular beds in man

Background and objective Nitric oxide (NO) is an almost ubiquitous messenger molecule and is implicated in several disorders. N^G monomethyl l-arginine (l-NMMA:546C88) is an inhibitor of all three NO synthases (NOS), the enzymes that catalyse the production of NO. The present study was performed to evaluate the dose-response relation of l-NMMA to improve the design and interpretation of studies in migraine sufferers and other diseases.Methods In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design, six healthy volunteers were randomised to receive three different doses of l-NMMA (0.3 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg) or placebo (5% dextrose) intravenously (iv) over 5 min on four different days. On a fifth study day, in an open design, the same subjects received l-NMMA in the dose 6 mg/kg iv over 15 min. The effect of l-NMMA on the maximal mean blood velocity (V_mean) in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) (transcranial Doppler), the luminal diameter of the radial artery (high-frequency ultrasound), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), heart rate and electrocardiogram were repeatedly followed every 5 min until 60 min after start of the infusion, then every 15 min during the following hour, and at 3 h and 4 h.Results Inhibition of NOS had no effect on V_mean in MCA or on the diameter of the radial artery, but MAP increased and heart rate decreased dose dependently. With a dose of 6-mg/kg l-NMMA infused over a 15-min period, the maximum MAP increase was 20% 20 min after the start of l-NMMA infusion. The maximum decrease of heart rate was 24% 15 min after start of the l-NMMA infusion.Conclusion l-NMMA in a dose that caused marked changes in systemic blood pressure and heart rate had no effect on cerebral and radial arteries in man.