The hypothesis was tested that insulin sensitivity, previously shown to depend on a functional hepatic parasympathetic reflex, was mediated by hepatic production of nitric oxide (NO). Insulin sensitivity was measured using the rapid insulin sensitivity test. N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg iv) and N-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA, 0.73 mg/kg), nitric oxide synthase (NOS) antagonists, caused insulin resistance in rats. Intraportal administration of L-NAME at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg significantly reduced the response to insulin (54.9 +/- 5.2%); however, administration of the same dose of L-NAME intravenously did not cause a significant decrease in insulin response. Intraportal, but not intravenous, administration of 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1, 5. 0 mg/kg), a NO donor, partially reversed the insulin resistance caused by L-NMMA. Intraportal administration of SIN-1 (10.0 mg/kg) completely restored insulin sensitivity after L-NMMA or surgical denervation of the liver. Insulin resistance produced by denervation was not further increased by NOS blockade. These results suggest that blockade of NOS causes peripheral insulin resistance secondary to blockade of the hepatic parasympathetic reflex release of hepatic insulin-sensitizing substance in response to insulin.