APStracts 3:0210H, 1996.

L-arginine augments nitric oxide production and mesenteric blood flow in ovine endotoxemia. Allman, Kg, Ap Stoddart, Mm Kennedy, Jd Young. Nuffield Dept of Anaesthetics, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, England

APStracts 3:0210H, 1996.

We studied the effects of administration of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME) or the nitric oxide precursor, L-arginine, on hemodynamic variables and serum nitrate concentrations in an anesthetised ovine model of endotoxemia, in order to assess the effects on regional visceral blood flow and to determine if L- arginine availability limits nitric oxide production. Animals received E. coli endotoxin (2 [mu]g kg-1) followed two hours later by L-NAME (25 mg kg-1), L-arginine (0.575 g kg-1) or saline administered over 1 hour followed by an infusion of the same dose over 8 hours (n=6 per group). Renal and mesenteric blood flow were measured by placement of electromagnetic flow probes and serum nitrate concentrations determined using vanadium III chloride or nitrate reductase reduction to nitric oxide or nitrite respectively.

Received 17 January 1996; accepted in final form 18 April 1996.
APS Manuscript Number H37-6.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Heart Circ. Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 19 May 96