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Involvement of nitric oxide in the regulation of peripheral blood leukocyte counts
Author(s) -
Geffner Jorge R.,
Trevani Analía S.,
D'Elia Isabel,
Diament Miriam,
Klein Danka,
Giordano Mirta
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1002/jlb.58.4.391
Subject(s) - nitric oxide , nitric oxide synthase , peripheral blood , arginase , biology , endocrinology , medicine , arginine , peripheral , dexamethasone , immunology , biochemistry , amino acid
A role for nitric oxide (NO) in the regulation of blood leukocyte numbers was examined in BALB/c mice by employing the NO synthase inhibitor N G ‐nitro L‐arginine methyl ester (L‐NAME). Treatment of animals with a single dose of 50 mg/kg body wt caused a dramatic increase in the number of circulating neutrophils and a moderate decrease in the number of circulating lymphocytes. These effects were partially reversed by the simultaneous inoculation of L‐arginine (250 mg/kg body wt.) but not by D‐arginine. A second NO synthase inhibitor, N G ‐nitro L‐arginine, induced changes comparable to those elicited by L‐NAME. Because catecholamines and glucocorticoids are well‐known modulators of blood leukocyte counts, experiments were carried out in adrenalectomized mice. It was found that adrenalectomy did not modify the increase in the number of circulating neutrophils induced by L‐NAME but completely prevented the decrease of circulating lymphocytes. Taken together, these findings support the hypothesis that NO plays an important role in the regulation of the peripheral blood number of neutrophils and lymphocytes, and that this function involves, in each case, the participation of different mechanisms.