[The effect of aortic coarctation on nitric oxide production by the vascular endothelium]

Nitric oxide is an important regulator of vascular tone. Deficiencies in nitric oxide release have been implicated in hypertension. In the present study we evaluated vascular reactivity to phenylephrine and acetylcholine in isolated aorta ring preparations from sham and aortic coarctation-induced hypertensive rats and nitric oxide release under resting conditions and after stimulation with acetylcholine. Aortic vessels were divided in upper segment and lower segment in relation to the coarctation; both segments were tested for vascular reactivity and nitric oxide release. Phenylephrine produced higher vasoconstriction in upper segments from hypertensive rats compared to sham operated animals. Lower segments in both experimental groups were not significantly different. Relaxation produced by acetylcholine showed a higher EC50 in the upper segments from hypertensive rats; lower segments in both experimental groups were not significantly different. Aortic rings from hypertensive rats had a higher level of nitric oxide release compared to sham operated rats. Lower segments from hypertensive rats released significantly more nitric oxide. These results suggest that shear stress induced nitric oxide release in lower aortic segments from aortic coarctation-induced hypertensive rats.