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Increased urinary nitrate excretion in rats with adjuvant arthritis
D O Stichtenoth1, F M Gutzki, D Tsikas
1Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hannover Medical School, Germany.
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
|August 1, 1994
Summary
Adjuvant arthritis in rats significantly increased urinary nitrate excretion, indicating higher nitric oxide (NO) production. Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels did not change, suggesting NO
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Science
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Adjuvant arthritis is an inflammatory condition in rats.
- Nitric oxide (NO) plays a role in inflammatory processes.
- Nitrate excretion is a marker of endogenous NO formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate nitric oxide (NO) formation in rats with adjuvant arthritis.
- To measure urinary nitrate and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) excretion.
- To explore the role of inducible NO synthase in arthritis.
Main Methods:
- Adjuvant arthritis was induced in rats.
- Urinary nitrate levels were measured using gas chromatography.
- Urinary cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels were measured using radioimmunoassay.
Main Results:
- Urinary nitrate excretion was significantly increased (over threefold) in arthritic rats compared to controls.
- No significant difference in urinary cGMP excretion was observed between arthritic and control rats.
- These changes were noted 20 days after arthritis induction.
Conclusions:
- The elevated urinary nitrate excretion suggests increased NO synthesis in adjuvant arthritis.
- The inducible form of NO synthase is likely responsible for the heightened NO production.
- cGMP levels do not appear to be a reliable indicator of NO activity in this model.