Isosorbide 5-mononitrate reverses high blood pressure in NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester treated rats

1. The present study has evaluated the effect of iosorbide 5-mononitrate (IS-5-MN) and L-arginine on blood pressure profile during chronic administration of the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). 2. After a 7 day period of stabilization, normotensive male Wistar rats (n = 10) were selected and given L-NAME (50 micrograms/ml) in drinking water. Control rats (n = 10) were studied simultaneously for direct comparison of cardiovascular parameters. Blood pressure (systolic, SBP; diastolic, DBP) and heart rate were measured using a photoelectric tail cuff pulse detector; SBP and DBP were, in normotensive rats 106 +/- 2 and 78 +/- 2 mmHg (n = 10), respectively. The average water consumption per animal was about 35 ml/day resulting in a mean intake of L-NAME of about 10 mg/kg/day. 3. Twenty four hours after exposure to L-NAME, both SBP and DBP were found to be increased by 20 mm Hg; heart rate slightly decreased. During the next 13 days both SBP and DBP increased progressively reaching 170 +/- 3 and 116 +/- 3 mm Hg, respectively. 4. On day 14, six animals of either group were sacrificed and the heart, kidneys, liver, spleen, mesenteric and caudal arteries, brain stem, hypothalamus and parietal cortex were taken from determination of noradrenaline and dopamine content; blood from the renal vein was also collected and plasma concentrations of noradrenaline, adrenaline and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylglycol (DOPEG) determined.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)