ACETYLCHOLINE-INDUCED VASODILATATION IN RABBIT HINDLIMB INVIVO IS NOT INHIBITED BY ANALOGS OF L-ARGININE

Nitric oxide (NO) or related nitroso compounds are an endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF), originating from metabolism of L-arginine. L-Arginine analogues with chemically altered guanidino moity are potent and specific inhibitors of EDRF(NO) release. We evaluated effects of two L-arginine analogues, N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA, 100 mu-M) and N(w)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NARG, 30 mu-M), on acetylcholine-, substance P-, and nitroglycerin-induced relaxation in the blood-perfused rabbit hindlimb in vivo and femoral arteries in vitro. L-NMMA and L-NARG selectively inhibited the vasodilator response to acetylcholine in rabbit femoral arteries in vitro, whereas endothelium-independent response to nitroprusside increased. L-NMMA (1.6 mg/min ia) in the blood-perfused rabbit hindlimb in vivo increased vascular resistance in the hindlimb by 23 +/- 3% (means +/- SE; n = 10) but did not inhibit the vasodilator responses to acetylcholine or substance P. L-NARG (10 mg/kg iv) increased systemic blood pressure by 26 +/- 3% (n = 7) and vascular hindlimb resistance by 22 +/- 9% (n = 8), and blood flow to hindlimb musculature, measured with microspheres, decreased by 46 +/- 5% (n = 6). Pretreatment with L-NARG, however, did not impair vasodilator responses to acetylcholine and substance P. These findings are consistent with the view that basal tone in resistance vessels in the rabbit hindlimb may be mediated by nitroso compounds, whereas agonist-stimulated vasodilation may be mediated by other mechanisms that do not involve the NO-synthesizing enzyme.