The hemodynamic and proinflammatory effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in proximal (1st/2nd order) and terminal (3rd/4th order) arterioles and venules were examined in small intestine submucosa of anesthetized guinea pigs. Vessel diameter (D), red blood cell velocity, and blood flow (Q) were determined in eight proximal and eight terminal microvessels before and at 20 min of ET-1 suffusion (10(-10), 10(-9), and 10(-8) M) and then with endothelin-A (ET(A))-receptor blockade with BQ-123 (10(-5) M). This protocol was repeated with platelet-activating factor (PAF) inhibition (WEB-2086, 1.0 mg/kg iv; n = 16). The ET-1-mediated microvascular responses were also examined with endothelin-B (ET(B))-receptor blockade using BQ-788 (10(-5) M; n = 11) alone or with ET(A+B)-receptor blockade with BQ-123 + BQ-788 (n = 10). Microvascular permeability was assessed by FITC-albumin (25 mg/kg iv) extravasation in seven series: 1) buffered modified Krebs solution suffusion (n = 6), 2) histamine suffusion (HIS; 10(-3) M, n = 5), 3) ET-1 suffusion (10(-8) M, n = 5), 4) BQ-123 (10(-5) M) plus ET-1 suffusion (n = 5), 5) PAF inhibition before ET-1 suffusion (n = 5), 6) histamine-1 (H1)-receptor blockade (diphenhydramine, 20 mg/kg iv) before ET-1 suffusion (n = 5), and 7) ET(B)-receptor blockade before (BQ-788 10(-5) M; n = 3) or with ET-1 suffusion (n = 3). D and Q decreased at 10(-8) M ET-1 and returned to control values with BQ-123 and BQ-123+BQ788 but not with BQ-788 in proximal microvessels. D did not change in terminal microvessels with ET-1 (10(-8) M) but decreased with BQ-788 and increased with BQ-123. PAF inhibition did not affect the D and Q responses of proximal microvessels to ET-1 but prevented the fall in Q in terminal microvessels with ET-1. ET-1 increased vascular permeability to approximately 1/3 of that with HIS; this response was prevented with BQ-123 and WEB-2086 but not with H1-receptor blockade. This is the first evidence that submucosal terminal microvessel flow is reduced with ET-1 independent of vessel diameter changes and that this response is associated with increased microvascular permeability mediated via ET(A)-receptor stimulation and PAF activation.

In the present study, we determined whether endothelin (ET)-1 contributed to the observed reduction in muscle blood flow (Q) during contractions with nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition and whether muscle O(2) uptake (VO(2)) would be affected by the decrease in muscle Q with NOS inhibition at different contraction intensities. Muscle Q, VO(2), O(2) extraction ratio (OER), and tension development (TD) were studied in the in situ gastrocnemius muscle preparation in anesthetized dogs. A decrease in the VO(2)-to-TD ratio (VO(2)/TD) was used as an indicator of O(2) limitation. Three contraction protocols were used: 1) isometric twitch contractions at 2 twitches (tw)/s, 2) the same contractions at 4 tw/s, and 3) pretreatment with an ET(A)-receptor antagonist (BQ-123) before 2 tw/s contractions. The muscle was stimulated to contract, and measures were obtained at steady state (approximately 5-8 min). NOS inhibition (N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester) was then induced, and measures were repeated at 2, 5, 10, and 15 min. During 2 tw/s contractions, NOS inhibition reduced Q with and without ET(A)-receptor blockade. In both groups, OER increased in response to the fall in Q, with the result being no change in VO(2)/TD. NOS inhibition also decreased Q during 4 tw/s contractions, but OER did not increase, resulting in a reduction in VO(2)/TD 5 and 15 min after N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester. These data indicated that 1) a reciprocal increase in ET-1 during NOS inhibition does not influence active hyperemia in skeletal muscle, and 2) during 4 tw/s contractions, the ischemia with NOS inhibition was associated with either an O(2) limitation or an alteration in the efficiency of muscle contractions.

regulatory mucin gene sequences in normal and disease states will further the understanding of mucin function in epithelial protection.

The effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1) infusion on blood flow (Q˙G) and O2 uptake (V˙o 2G) were examined in the small intestine of anesthetized dogs ( n = 10). Arterial and venous flows of a gut segment were isolated, and the segment was perfused at constant pressure. Arterial and gut venous blood samples were taken, gut perfusion pressure andQ˙G were measured, and O2 extraction ratio (OERG) andV˙o 2Gwere calculated. ET-1 was infused (0.118 μg ⋅ kg−1 ⋅ min−1ia) throughout the experiment. In group 1 ( n = 5), ETA receptors were blocked using BQ-123 (0.143 mg ⋅ kg−1 ⋅ min−1ia) followed by blockade of ETBreceptors with BQ-788 (0.145 mg ⋅ kg−1 ⋅ min−1ia). The order of ETA and ETB receptor blockade was reversed in group 2( n = 5). In group 1, the decrease inQ˙G observed with ET-1 infusion was partially reversed with BQ-123; no further change occurred after BQ-788 administration. In group 2, addition of BQ-788 to the infusate further decreasedQ˙G, whereas addition of BQ-123 returnedQ˙G to a value not different from that with ET-1 infusion alone. These data indicated that ET-1-induced vasoconstriction in the gut was mediated via ETA receptors and that this constriction was buffered by activation of ETB receptors.V˙o 2Gdecreased in proportion to the decrease inQ˙G with ET-1, decreased further with ET-1 plus ETB receptor blockade ( group 2), and increased in proportion to the increases in Q˙Gwith ETA receptor blockade (both groups). No changes in OERGoccurred during ETA and ETB receptor antagonism in either group. This study is the first to demonstrate that a flow-limited decrease in gutV˙o 2Goccurred with infusion of ET-1 in gut vasculature. An intriguing and novel finding was that, during O2limitation, OERG was only 50% of that normally associated with ischemia in this tissue.

The effect of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition and endothelin-A (ETA)-receptor blockade on neural sympathetic control of vascular tone in the gastrocnemius muscle was examined in anesthetized dogs under conditions of constant flow. Muscle perfusion pressure (MPP) was measured before and after NOS inhibition (Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester; L-NAME) and ETA-receptor blockade [cyclo-(D-Trp-d-Asp-Pro-D-Val-Leu); BQ-123]. Zero and maximum sympathetic nerve activities were achieved by sciatic nerve cold block and stimulation, respectively. In group 1 (n = 6), MPP was measured 1) before nerve cold block, 2) during nerve cold block, and 3) during nerve stimulation. Measurements under these conditions were repeated after L-NAME and then BQ-123. The same protocol was followed in group 2 (n = 6) except that the order of L-NAME and BQ-123 was reversed. MPP and muscle vascular resistance (MVR) increased after L-NAME and then decreased to control values after BQ-123. MVR decreased after BQ-123 alone and, with the addition of L-NAME, increased to a level not different from that observed during the control period. MVR fell during nerve cold block. This response was not affected by administration of L-NAME followed by BQ-123, but it was attenuated by administration of BQ-123 before L-NAME. The constrictor response during sympathetic nerve stimulation was enhanced by L-NAME; no further effect was observed with BQ-123, nor was the response affected when BQ-123 was given first. These findings indicate that endothelin contributes to 1) basal vascular tone in skeletal muscle and 2) the increase in skeletal muscle vascular resistance after NOS inhibition. Finally, nitric oxide "buffers" the degree of constriction in skeletal muscle vasculature during maximal sympathetic stimulation.

O2 extraction during progressive ischemia in canine skeletal muscle, J. Appl. Physiol. 79(4): 1351-1360, 1995.--O2 uptake (VO2) is defended during decreased O2 delivery (QO2) by an increase in the O2 extraction ratio (O2ER, VO2/QO2), presumably by recruitment of capillaries. This study tested the hypothesis that activity of the microvascular endothelium plays a necessary role in achievement of maximal O2ER. We pump perfused the vascularly isolated hindlimbs of 24 anesthetized and paralyzed dogs at progressively lower flows over a 90-min period. In eight dogs, hindlimb vascular endothelium was removed by injection of deoxycholate (DOC) into the perfusing artery before the ischemic challenge. DOC treatment resulted in loss of normal in vivo and in vitro endothelium-dependent dilatory responses to acetylcholine, but endothelium-independent vascular smooth muscle responses were intact. Eight other dogs were pretreated with nitro-L-arginine methyl ester plus indomethacin (L+I group) to block the synthesis of the vasodilators nitric oxide and prostacyclin. L+I and DOC treatment were associated with increases in hindlimb vascular resistance of 168 +/- 17 and 63 +/- 12%, respectively. O2ER at critical QO2 (QO2 at which VO2 begins to decrease) was 81 +/- 2% in eight control dogs, 66 +/- 6% in L+I, and 42 +/- 4% in DOC, indicating a significant O2 extraction defect in the two treatment groups. These data suggest that products of the vascular endothelium play an important role in the matching of O2 supply to demand during supply limitation in skeletal muscle.

We investigated whether endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) and prostaglandins, which may be released under conditions of increased blood flow, contribute to the active hyperemia in contracting muscle of anesthetized dogs. The venous outflow from the left gastrocnemius muscle was isolated and measured. The tendon was cut and placed in a force transducer. One group served as a control (Con; n = 9); EDRF synthesis was inhibited using N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) in a second group (n = 9), and a third group (n = 7) received L-NAME and indomethacin (L-NAME+Indo) to inhibit prostaglandin synthesis. After resting measurements, the distal end of the cut sciatic nerve was stimulated to produce isometric contractions at 1, 2, 4, and 6 twitches/s for 6-8 min, separated by 25-min recovery periods. Blood flow and O2 uptake increased linearly from resting values of 11.8 +/- 2.4 and 0.3 +/- 0.05 ml.100 g-1.min-1, respectively, to maximal values of 84.2 +/- 5.1 and 11.1 +/- 0.7 ml.100 g-1.min-1 in the Con group; neither these values nor those for tension development were different from values observed at comparable contraction frequencies in the L-NAME and L-NAME+Indo groups. At rest, resistance was greater (P < 0.05) in both the L-NAME and L-NAME+Indo groups compared with Con, the highest value (P < 0.05) occurring in the L-NAME+Indo group. Muscle resistance decreased (P < 0.05) in all groups at all contraction frequencies; the values were not different among the three groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition has been used to increase blood pressure in humans with septic shock despite a lack of data regarding its effects on O2 delivery (QO2). We studied the effects of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on systemic, gut, and hindlimb circulations of endotoxic dogs. Twelve dogs were infused with 2 mg/kg of LPS over 1 h followed by 60 mL/kg of 6% dextran over 2 h. Six dogs also received 20 mg/kg of L-NAME, LPS caused mean arterial pressure (MAP), flow and QO2 to whole body, hindlimb and gut to decrease, but O2 uptake (VO2) did not change. Dextran resuscitation alone produced a hyperdynamic state with increased blood flow to or above baseline. With L-NAME, systemic and regional resistances increased twofold and MAP returned to near baseline. Late in the study, these dogs had significantly lower blood flow and QO2 to the gut but maintained VO2 by increasing oxygen extraction to near critical levels. These data suggest that in acute endotoxicosis, L-NAME may significantly improve blood pressure but may markedly encroach on O2 transport reserves to the gut.

The nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) was used to determine whether the decrease in canine hindlimb blood flow (QL) with NOS inhibition would limit skeletal muscle O2 uptake (VO2). Arterial inflow and venous outflow from the hindlimb were isolated, and the paw was excluded from the circulation. Pump perfusion from the right femoral artery kept the hindlimb perfusion pressure near the auto-perfused level. Six anesthetized dogs received L-NAME (20 mg/kg i.v.), whereas another group of five dogs received the stereospecific enantiomer N omega-nitro-D-arginine methyl ester (D-NAME 20 mg/kg i.v.). Efficacy of NOS inhibition was tested with intra-arterial boluses of acetylcholine. QL was measured continuously, and whole body and hindlimb VO2 were measured 60 and 120 min after L-NAME or D-NAME. Whole body VO2 remained at control levels, but cardiac output decreased from 117 +/- 17 to 57 +/- 7 ml.kg-1.min-1 60 min after L-NAME (P < 0.05) and remained at that level for the duration of the experiment. Cardiac output was significantly higher in the D-NAME group than in the L-NAME group at 60 min. After L-NAME, QL fell 24% but VO2 increased from 5.2 +/- 0.4 to 7.4 +/- 0.6 ml.kg-1.min-1 (P < 0.05). No change in QL or VO2 occurred after D-NAME. NOS inhibition did not limit hindlimb VO2, despite decreases in blood flow.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Our question was whether inhibition of nitric oxide [endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF)/NO] production in an in situ vascularly isolated but innervated canine hindlimb would prevent hypoxic vasodilation or interfere with O2 extraction during ischemic (IH) or hypoxic hypoxia (HH). After a control period, we gave NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 20 mg/kg i.v.) to two of four groups of six dogs before a 30-min period of IH or HH. In IH, arterial inflow from a pump-membrane oxygenator system was lowered from 65 to 35 ml.min-1.kg-1 with PO2 maintained at approximately 110 Torr. In HH, PO2 was lowered from 107 to 28 Torr with flow at 78 ml.min-1.kg-1. Total O2 delivery was lowered to approximately 5 ml.min-1.kg-1 in all groups during hypoxia. Hindlimb vascular resistance (LVR) increased from 1.11 +/- 0.09 to 2.21 +/- 0.25 peripheral resistance units (PRU; P < 0.05) after L-NAME infusion and hindlimb O2 uptake increased from 3.9 +/- 0.2 to 4.5 +/- 0.3 ml.min-1.kg-1 (P < 0.05). In controls, LVR decreased from 1.10 +/- 0.06 to 0.63 +/- 0.04 PRU with HH (P < 0.05) and from 1.03 +/- 0.06 to 0.82 +/- 0.02 PRU (P = NS) with IH. In L-NAME-treated dogs, LVR decreased from 2.38 +/- 0.37 to 1.07 +/- 0.13 PRU with HH (P < 0.05) and from 2.04 +/- 0.29 to 1.41 +/- 0.13 PRU (P = NS) with IH. There were no differences in O2 extraction ratio (0.72) or in O2 uptake between groups during hypoxia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

We and others have postulated that the most efficient oxygen extraction from a diminished oxygen supply is achieved when locally-generated vasodilators promote blood flow to areas of greater O2 demand while others remain under vasoconstrictor tone (Cain and Chapler, 1980; Granger and Shepherd, 1979). Previous experiments in our laboratory have shown that administration of Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, doubles both total and hindlimb peripheral resistance in the anesthetized dog. The current study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that the greater levels of whole body and hindlimb resistance during NOS inhibition would limit the ability of the animal to effectively utilize the reduced oxygen supply available during severe hypoxic hypoxia (HH). In particular, we wished to assess the functional significance of endothelium derived relaxing factor on oxygen utilization and vascular resistance during severe hypoxic hypoxia in the whole body and skeletal muscle.

When anesthetized dogs were given the α-adrenergic blocking agent phenoxybenzamine and then made hypoxic, their ability to extract oxygen from a supply that was limiting to oxygen uptake was significantly less than in unblocked animals (Cain, 1978). This was evident by a lower slope of the line relating O2 uptake to oxygen delivery as O2 uptake became linearly dependent upon O2 delivery. The reason for the lesser efficiency in extracting oxygen by the α-blocked animals was postulated to depend upon the loss of vasoconstrictor tone. The hypothesis that was offered stated that a vigorous constrictor tone was necessary in hypoxia so that blood flow in excess to need would not occur in any organ system or tissue. The constrictor tone in areas where O2 demand exceeded O2 supply would then be offset by the production of vasodilator metabolites in proportion to the imbalance of supply and demand. In this manner, blood flow and O2 delivery would be matched to local O2 need so that O2 would not be shunted through areas that were overperfused relative to their O2 uptake.