[Properties of peroxynitrite-induced relaxation in rabbit pulmonary artery in vitro]

Vasodilatory properties of exogenous peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) and effects of endothelial cells on ONOO(-) induced relaxation were investigated in isolated rabbit pulmonary arterial rings (PARs). In pre-contracted PARs, ONOO(-) gave rise to vasodilation in a dose-dependent manner, which was significantly higher than that of decomposed ONOO-. In contrast, relaxation of PARs to ONOO(-) was lower, as compared with sodium nitroprusside (SNP) or acetylcholine(ACh). ONOO(-) induced more significant relaxation in denuded endothelial PARs than in intact endothelial PARs. Relaxation of PARs to repetitively administered ONOO(-) appeared progressively decreased. Under this experimental condition, relaxation of PARs to ACh remained unchanged after administrating ONOO(-). These results suggest that ONOO(-) causes weak relaxation in pulmonary artery, which is down regulated by endothelium and is of tachyphylaxis.