Abstract
NG monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), a specific inhibitor of the synthesis of endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO), was infused into the brachial arteries of healthy volunteers to study the role of NO in the control of forearm blood flow. L-NMMA caused a 50% fall in basal blood flow and attenuated the dilator response to infused acetylcholine but not that to glyceryl trinitrate. These results indicate that the dilator action of endothelium-derived NO contributes to the control of basal and stimulated regional blood flow in man. Impairment of production of NO might account for the abnormalities in vascular reactivity that characterise a wide variety of disease states.
Publication types
- Clinical Trial
- Controlled Clinical Trial
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
- Acetylcholine / antagonists & inhibitors
- Acetylcholine / pharmacology*
- Adult
- Arginine / administration & dosage
- Arginine / pharmacology
- Brachial Artery
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Drug Evaluation
- Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism*
- Female
- Forearm / blood supply
- Humans
- Infusions, Intra-Arterial
- Male
- Muscle Tonus / drug effects*
- Nitric Oxide / antagonists & inhibitors*
- Nitroglycerin / pharmacology*
- Regional Blood Flow
- Time Factors
- Vasodilation / drug effects*
- omega-N-Methylarginine
Substances
- omega-N-Methylarginine
- Nitric Oxide
- Arginine
- Nitroglycerin
- Acetylcholine