[Using NO-synthase inhibitors derived from L-arginine for preventing acute experimental lung edema development in...

The preventive and curative action of NO-synthase inhibitors derived from L-arginine was investigated on the model of toxic lung edema induced by phosgene (LCt50 - 84) in mice. The most pronounced decrease in the phosgene-induced lung edema was observed for aminoguanidine, NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), and L-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Aminoguanidine was effective in cases of both preventive and curative administration. L-NNA, an inhibitor of the constitutive isoform of NO-synthase, was effective only after preventive injection, while L-NAME, an inhibitor of both inducible and constitutive isoforms of NO-synthase, was effective only after curative use. Therefore, the NO-synthase inhibitors are a promising group of pharmacological agents for the treatment of toxic lung edema induced by phosgene.