Role Of Nitric Oxide In Adrenocorticotrophin-Induced Hypertension: L-Arginine Effects Reversed By N-Nitro- L-Arginine

doi:10.1046/j.1440-1681.2000.03354.x

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Wiley InterScience

Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology

Volume 27 Issue 11, Pages 887 - 890

Published Online: 24 Dec 2001

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Role Of Nitric Oxide In Adrenocorticotrophin-Induced Hypertension: L-Arginine Effects Reversed By N-Nitro- L-Arginine

Cheng Wen,* Ming Li* and Judith A Whitworth†

*Department of Medicine, St George Hospital, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales and ^†John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

Correspondence: ProfessorJudithA

KEYWORDS

adrenocorticotrophin • blood pressure • L-arginine • N-nitro- L-arginine • rat

ABSTRACT

SUMMARY

1. L-Arginine prevents adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH)-induced hypertension in the rat. To confirm that this effect is mediated through the nitric oxide (NO) system, we examined whether N-nitro- L-arginine (NOLA) could reverse the L-arginine-induced blockade of ACTH-induced hypertension.

2. Blood pressure and metabolic parameters were examined in sham-, ACTH-, L-arginine + sham-, NOLA + sham-, ACTH + L-arginine- and ACTH + L-arginine + NOLA-treated Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 40).

3. Adrenocorticotrophin treatment increased systolic blood pressure (SBP), water intake and urine output and decreased bodyweight. N-Nitro- L-arginine alone increased SBP without affecting metabolic variables. L-Arginine alone did not affect blood pressure. The SBP was lower in L-arginine + ACTH- than ACTH-treated rats (P < 0.001), but was higher following ACTH + L-arginine + NOLA than ACTH + L-arginine (P < 0.05).

4. N-Nitro- L-arginine reversed the blood pressure-lowering effect of L-arginine in ACTH-induced hypertension in the rat, supporting the notion that NO plays a role in the hypertension.

DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)

10.1046/j.1440-1681.2000.03354.x About DOI