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EFFECT OF N G ‐M0N0METHYL‐L‐ARGININE ON THE MICROCIRCULATION OF RAT SKIN
Author(s) -
Kakizoe Eiichi,
Kobayashi Yuta,
Okunishi Hideki,
Shimoura Keiko,
Jidoi Joji,
Hattori Keisuke
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
clinical and experimental pharmacology and physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1440-1681
pISSN - 0305-1870
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1681.1997.tb01798.x
Subject(s) - microcirculation , vasoconstriction , nitric oxide , omega n methylarginine , nitric oxide synthase , hemodynamics , medicine , endocrinology , arginine , chemistry , anesthesia , biochemistry , amino acid
SUMMARY 1. The effects of N G ‐monomethyl‐L‐arginine (L‐NMMA), a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, on the microcirculation of rat dorsal skin were studied to examine the role of NO in the regulation of regional haemodynamics. 2. The blood volume in the skin microcirculation, which was continuously measured by reflectance spectrophotometry, was significantly decreased in response to L‐NMMA (10 mg/kg bodyweight, i.v.), suggesting vasoconstriction, and the response continued for more than 20 min. In contrast, the increase in systemic blood pressure (BP) disappeared soon after administration of L‐NMMA. 3. These results show that L‐NMMA elicits long‐lasting responses in the skin microcirculation, whereas the systemic BP rapidly recovers, suggesting a large contribution of the NO system to the regulation of rat skin microcirculation.