Effects of nitric oxide synthesis inhibition on mesenteric perfusion in young pigs

We tested the hypothesis that nitric oxide (NO) modulates postprandial hyperemia in young pigs. To test this hypothesis, we studied five groups of 3-wk-old pigs: group 1: milk fed, N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) and L-arginine (L-Arg) treated (n = 10); group 2: milk fed, placebo treated (n = 8); group 3: water fed, L-NMMA and L-Arg treated (n = 6); group 4: water fed, placebo treated (n = 4); and group 5: fasted sham fed, L-NMMA and L-Arg treated (n = 6). After catheter placement and electromagnetic flow probe instrumentation of the mesenteric artery, systemic blood pressure and mesenteric artery blood flow were measured during preprandial baseline, postprandial, and postprandial intra-arterial L-NMMA- and L-Arg-infused study periods. The same measurements were made in the milk- and water-fed placebo-treated groups except that diluent replaced the L-NMMA and L-Arg infusions. In the milk- and water-fed placebo-treated groups, a significant (analysis of variance, P < 0.05), postprandial hyperemia was observed. The change in blood flow was greater (P < 0.05) in the milk-fed group than in the water-fed group. Inhibition of NO synthesis with L-NMMA diminished (P < 0.05) the hyperemic responses to both water and milk feeding and resulted in a decrease (P < 0.05) in mesenteric artery perfusion in the fasted sham-fed state. We conclude that, in young pigs, NO is a modulator of mesenteric vascular tone in both the postprandial and fasted states.