A Central Pressor Response to Endogenous Nitric Oxide Synthesis Inhibition in Anesthetized Rats

The present study was aimed to determine if endogenous L-arginine-nitric oxide (NO) pathway has central, rather than peripheral, mechanisms in blood pressure regulation. Arterial blood pressure and heart rate responses to acute inhibition of the t-arginine-NO pathway were examined in rats anesthetized with thiopental (50 mg/kg, IP). An intracerebroventricular (ICV) cannula was placed in the left lateral ventricle. The right femoral artery was cannulated to measure arterial blood pressure and the vein to serve as an infusion route. $N^G-nitro-L-arginine$ methyl ester (L-NAME) was infused either intracerebroventricularly or intravenously. ICV infusion $(1.25\;{\mu}L/min)$ of L-NAME $(20\;or\;100\;{\mu}g/kg)$ per minute for 60 min) increased the mean arterial pressure and heart rate. Plasma renin concentrations(PRC) were significantly lower in L-NAME-infused group than in the control. L-Arginine $(60\;{\mu}g/min,\;ICV)$ prevented the pressor response to ICV L-NAME. The pressor response was not affected by simultaneous intravenous infusion of saralasin, but was abolished by hexamethonium treatment. Intravenous infusion $(40\;{\mu}L/min,\;10{\sim}100\;{\mu}g/kg\;per\;minute\;for\;60\;min)$ also increased blood pressure, while it decreased heart rate. These results indicate that endogenous L-arginine-NO pathway has separate central and peripheral mechanisms in regulating the cardiovascular function. The central effect may not be mediated via activation of renin-angiotensin system, but via, at least in part, activation of the sympathetic outflow.