The involvement of nitric oxide in the hemodynamic and metabolic state of the brain and small intestine

M. Tolmasove, E. Barbiro-Michaely, A. Mayevsky

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nitric oxide is a mediator in many physiological processes including vasodilatation of blood vessels, neurotransmission and prevention of platelet aggregation. It has also a role in the pathophysiology of sepsis, hemorrhagic shock, various traumatic events and critical conditions involved with circulatory abnormalities. The last one is accompanied by blood flow redistribution and is considered to be the putative cause of altered oxygen metabolism in various pathophysiological conditions. The present study tested the involvement of NO in the brain as a vital organ versus the small intestine, a less vital organ using the non-specific nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME and exogenous NO donor - nitrite. The parameters that were simultaneously monitored in both organs included mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), tissue blood flow (TBF), using laser Doppler flowmetery and NADH fluorescence using the fluorometric technique. Three groups were tested. Group 1 - L-NAME + nitrite, group 2 - control L-NAME and group 3 - control nitrite. Following L-NAME, MAP significantly increased and remained elevated through the entire experiment. TBF decreased in both organs with full recovery in the brain and no recovery in the intestine, whereas NADH showed no significant changes. Nitrite alone had no significant effect on the parameters in any of the organs. In group 1 the infusion of nitrite decreased the level of elevated MAP earlier induced by L-NAME. Nitrite also recovered the reduced TBF in the brain whereas it had no beneficial effect on intestinal blood flow indicating for its regulatory role in the brain but not in the intestine.

Original languageEnglish
Article number716906
JournalProgress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE
Volume7169
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009
EventAdvanced Biomedical and Clinical Diagnostic Systems VII - San Jose, CA, United States
Duration: 25 Jan 200926 Jan 2009

Keywords

  • L-NAME
  • Laser Doppler flowmetry
  • Mitochondrial fluorometry
  • Nitrite

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