Nitric oxide attenuates endothelin-1-induced vasoconstriction in the canine stomach. Wood, J. G., Q. Zhang, Z. Y. Yan, and L. Y. Cheung. Departments of Surgery and Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160
APStracts 2:0235G, 1995.
We previously observed that endothelin-1-(ET-1)-induced gastric vasoconstriction is enhanced following ischemia/reperfusi on. The purpose of our present study was to examine the role of nitric oxide in regulating ET-1-induced vasoconstriction under normal conditions and following ischemia/reperfusion. Using a mechanically-perfused stomach segment from chloralose-anesthetized dogs, we examined: 1) responses to L-NAME alone and in combination with L-arginine, 2) whether L-NAME affects ET-1-induced vasocon striction under normal conditions and after ischemia/reperfusion, and 3) if spermine NONOate (a nitric oxide donor) attenuates the augmented response to ET-1 following ischemia/reperfusion. Our results show that: 1) L-NAME significantly increased baseline vascular resistance and this response was reduced by L-arginine, 2) ET-1-induced vasoconstriction was enhanced by L-NAME, and 3) administration of spermine NONOate during reperfusion largely attenuated the vasoconstrictor response to ET-1 after is chemia/reperfusion. Our findings are consistent with the hypothe sis that nitric oxide modulates responses to ET-1 under normal conditions, and loss of this vasodilator following isch emia/reperfusion results in an augmented response to ET-1.

Received 12 January 1995; accepted in final form 3 November 1995.
APS Manuscript Number G17-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Gastrointest. Liver
Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 30 November 95