NOS inhibition increases bubble formation and reduces survival in sedentary but not exercised rats

Previously we have shown that chronic as well as a single bout of exercise 20 h prior to a simulated dive protects rats from severe decompression illness (DCI) and death. However, the mechanism behind this protection is still not known. The present study determines the effect of inhibiting nitric oxide synthase (NOS) on bubble formation in acutely exercised and sedentary rats exposed to hyperbaric pressure. A total of 45 adult female Sprague-Dawley rats (270-320 g) were randomly assigned into exercise or sedentary control groups, with and without NOS inhibition, using L-NAME (0.05 or 1 mg ml(-1)) (a nonselective NOS inhibitor). Exercising rats ran intervals on a treadmill for 1.5 h, 20 h prior to the simulated dive. Intervals alternated between 8 min at 85-90 % of maximal oxygen uptake, and 2 min at 50-60 %. Rats were compressed (simulated dive) in a pressure chamber, at a rate of 200 kPa min(-1) to a pressure of 700 kPa, and maintained for 45 min breathing air. At the end of the exposure period, rats were decompressed linearly to the "surface" (100 kPa) at a rate of 50 kPa min(-1). Immediately after reaching the surface the animals were anaesthetised and the right ventricle was insonated using ultrasound. The study demonstrated that sedentary rats weighing more than 300 g produced a large amount of bubbles, while those weighing less than 300 g produced few bubbles and most survived the protocol. Prior exercise reduced bubble formation and increased survival in rats weighing more than 300 g, confirming the results from the previous study. During NOS inhibition, the simulated dive induced significantly more bubbles in all sedentary rats weighing less than 300 g. However, this effect could be attenuated by a single bout of exercise 20 h before exposure. The present study demonstrates two previously unreported findings: that administration of L-NAME allows substantial bubble formation and decreased survival in sedentary rats, and that a single bout of exercise protects NOS-inhibited rats from severe bubble formation and death. This is the first report to indicate that biochemical processes are involved in bubble formation, and this information may be important in the search for preventive measures for and treatment of DCI.