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SPECIAL REPORT Evidence that endogenous nitric oxide modulates plasma fibrinogen levels in the rat
Author(s) -
Kawabata Atsufumi
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1996.tb15181.x
Subject(s) - nitric oxide , endogeny , fibrinogen , chemistry , nitric oxide synthase , medicine , endocrinology , pharmacology , biochemistry
This study investigated the effect of prolonged inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthase on plasma fibrinogen levels and platelet count in the rats. N G ‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester (L‐NAME), when administered orally twice a day, at 10 − 100 mg kg −1 , for 7 consecutive days, 14 times in all, significantly elevated fibrinogen levels and systolic blood pressure in a dose‐dependent manner. The same dose range of L‐NAME failed to alter platelet count and plasma protein concentrations. The increase in fibrinogen levels produced by chronic treatment with L‐NAME at 30 mg kg −1 was reversed by L‐arginine at 500 − 1500 mg kg −1 in a dose‐dependent manner. These findings suggest that endogenous NO tonically acts to reduce plasma fibrinogen levels in rats under physiological conditions.