Biomaterial Database

Nitric oxide release in rat skeletal muscle capillary. 1996

D Mitchell, and K Tyml

John P. Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.

Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to be a potent vasodilator released from endothelial cells (EC) in large blood vessels, but NO release has not been examined in the capillary bed. Because the capillary bed represents the largest source of EC, it may be the largest source of vascular NO. In the present study, we used intravital microscopy to examine the effect of the NO synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), on the microvasculature of the rat extensor digitorum longus muscle. L-NAME (30 mM) applied locally to a capillary (300 micron(s) from the feeding arteriole) reduced red blood cell (RBC) velocity [VRBC; control VRBC = 238 +/- 58 (SE) micron/s; delta VRBC = -76 +/- 8%] and RBC flux (4.4 +/- 0.7 to 2.8 +/- 0.7 RBC/s) significantly in the capillary, but did not change feeding arteriole diameter (Dcon = 6.3 +/- 0.7 micron, delta D = 5 +/- 7%) or draining venule diameter (Dcon = 10.1 +/- 0.6 micron, delta D = 4 +/- 2%). Because of the VRBC change, the flux reduction was equivalent to an increased local hemoconcentration from 1.8 to 5 RBCs per 100 micron capillary length. L-NAME also caused an increase in the number of adhering leukocytes in the venule from 0.29 to 1.43 cells/100 micron. L-NAME (30 mM) applied either to arterioles or to venules did not change capillary VRBC. Bradykinin (BK) locally applied to the capillary caused significant increases in VRBC (delta VRBC = 111 +/- 23%) and in arteriolar diameter (delta D = 40 +/- 5%). This BK response was blocked by capillary pretreatment with 30 mM L-NAME (delta VRBC = -4 +/- 27%; delta D = 5 +/- 9% after BK). We concluded that NO may be released from capillary EC both basally and in response to the vasodilator BK. We hypothesize that 1) low basal levels of NO affect capillary blood flow by modulating local hemoconcentration and leukocyte adhesion, and 2) higher levels of NO (stimulated by BK) may cause a remote vasodilation to increase microvascular blood flow.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009569	Nitric Oxide	A free radical gas produced endogenously by a variety of mammalian cells, synthesized from ARGININE by NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE. Nitric oxide is one of the ENDOTHELIUM-DEPENDENT RELAXING FACTORS released by the vascular endothelium and mediates VASODILATION. It also inhibits platelet aggregation, induces disaggregation of aggregated platelets, and inhibits platelet adhesion to the vascular endothelium. Nitric oxide activates cytosolic GUANYLATE CYCLASE and thus elevates intracellular levels of CYCLIC GMP.	Endogenous Nitrate Vasodilator,Mononitrogen Monoxide,Nitric Oxide, Endothelium-Derived,Nitrogen Monoxide,Endothelium-Derived Nitric Oxide,Monoxide, Mononitrogen,Monoxide, Nitrogen,Nitrate Vasodilator, Endogenous,Nitric Oxide, Endothelium Derived,Oxide, Nitric,Vasodilator, Endogenous Nitrate
D001920	Bradykinin	A nonapeptide messenger that is enzymatically produced from KALLIDIN in the blood where it is a potent but short-lived agent of arteriolar dilation and increased capillary permeability. Bradykinin is also released from MAST CELLS during asthma attacks, from gut walls as a gastrointestinal vasodilator, from damaged tissues as a pain signal, and may be a neurotransmitter.	Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe-Ser-Pro-Phe-Arg,Bradykinin Acetate, (9-D-Arg)-Isomer,Bradykinin Diacetate,Bradykinin Hydrochloride,Bradykinin Triacetate,Bradykinin, (1-D-Arg)-Isomer,Bradykinin, (2-D-Pro)-Isomer,Bradykinin, (2-D-Pro-3-D-Pro-7-D-Pro)-Isomer,Bradykinin, (2-D-Pro-7-D-Pro)-Isomer,Bradykinin, (3-D-Pro)-Isomer,Bradykinin, (3-D-Pro-7-D-Pro)-Isomer,Bradykinin, (5-D-Phe)-Isomer,Bradykinin, (5-D-Phe-8-D-Phe)-Isomer,Bradykinin, (6-D-Ser)-Isomer,Bradykinin, (7-D-Pro)-Isomer,Bradykinin, (8-D-Phe)-Isomer,Bradykinin, (9-D-Arg)-Isomer,Arg Pro Pro Gly Phe Ser Pro Phe Arg
D002196	Capillaries	The minute vessels that connect arterioles and venules.	Capillary Beds,Sinusoidal Beds,Sinusoids,Bed, Sinusoidal,Beds, Sinusoidal,Capillary,Capillary Bed,Sinusoid,Sinusoidal Bed
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D017208	Rats, Wistar	A strain of albino rat developed at the Wistar Institute that has spread widely at other institutions. This has markedly diluted the original strain.	Wistar Rat,Rat, Wistar,Wistar Rats
D051381	Rats	The common name for the genus Rattus.	Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus
D018482	Muscle, Skeletal	A subtype of striated muscle, attached by TENDONS to the SKELETON. Skeletal muscles are innervated and their movement can be consciously controlled. They are also called voluntary muscles.	Anterior Tibial Muscle,Gastrocnemius Muscle,Muscle, Voluntary,Plantaris Muscle,Skeletal Muscle,Soleus Muscle,Muscle, Anterior Tibial,Muscle, Gastrocnemius,Muscle, Plantaris,Muscle, Soleus,Muscles, Skeletal,Muscles, Voluntary,Skeletal Muscles,Tibial Muscle, Anterior,Voluntary Muscle,Voluntary Muscles
D019001	Nitric Oxide Synthase	An NADPH-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of L-ARGININE and OXYGEN to produce CITRULLINE and NITRIC OXIDE.	NO Synthase,Nitric-Oxide Synthase,Nitric-Oxide Synthetase,Nitric Oxide Synthetase,Oxide Synthase, Nitric,Synthase, Nitric Oxide
D019331	NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester	A non-selective inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase. It has been used experimentally to induce hypertension.	L-NAME,N omega-Nitro-L-arginine Methyl Ester,NG-Nitro-L-Arginine Methyl Ester,N(G)-Nitro-L-arginine Methyl Ester,N(G)-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester,N(omega)-Nitro-L-arginine Methyl Ester,NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester, D-Orn-Isomer,NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester, L-Orn-Isomer, Monohydrochloride,Methyl Ester, NG-Nitro-L-Arginine,Methyl Ester, NG-Nitroarginine,N omega Nitro L arginine Methyl Ester,NG Nitro L Arginine Methyl Ester,NG Nitroarginine Methyl Ester,NG Nitroarginine Methyl Ester, D Orn Isomer