nitroarginine and 10-10--dimethyl-9-9--biacridinium

Oxygen-derived free radicals, in particular superoxide anions, are known to inactivate the endogenous vasodilator endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) which is probably identical with the gaseous radical nitric oxide. It is possible that EDRF is not the target of superoxide anions but may also be an endogenous scavenger of this radical. Superoxide anions generated by the vessel wall were measured by a modified lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence technique in isolated pig coronary artery rings with intact endothelium. The addition of bovine superoxide dismutase, a scavenger of superoxide anions, decreased the chemiluminescence signal by 40 +/- 26% (mean +/- SD; P < 0.05; n = 21) indicating reduced generation/release of superoxide anions. In contrast, pretreatment of coronary artery rings with diethyldithiocarbamate, an inhibitor of the intrinsic copper-zinc superoxide dismutase, increased the chemiluminescence response by 136 +/- 128% (P < 0.05; n = 21). This increase in the chemiluminescence response induced by diethyldithiocarbamate-pretreatment was almost abolished in the presence of added bovine superoxide dismutase. Specific inhibition of the EDRF release with nitro-L-arginine (100 microM) did not affect the chemiluminescence response. On the other hand, stimulation of the EDRF release by substance P (10 nM) or addition of the endothelium-mediated relaxant bradykinin (0.1 microM) did not affect the chemiluminescence response. Stimulation of the EDRF release with serotonin (0.1 microM) significantly reduced the photon emission by 15 +/- 16% (n = 27).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Acridines; Animals; Arginine; Cattle; Coronary Vessels; Ditiocarb; In Vitro Techniques; Luminescent Measurements; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Nitric Oxide; Nitroarginine; Substance P; Superoxide Dismutase; Superoxides; Swine

Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced luminol chemiluminescence in rat Kupffer cells was doubled by the addition of L-arginine and significantly (up to 70%) inhibited by NG-nitro-L-arginine and NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, competitive inhibitors of L-arginine-dependent nitric oxide (NO) formation. The release of superoxide anion (O2-) by NADPH oxidase was neither affected by L-arginine nor by the inhibitors. Only very slight luminol chemiluminescence was detectable in lipopolysaccharide-pretreated Kupffer cells, a condition in which significant amounts of NO were formed but no O2-. In a cell-free system, significant luminol chemiluminescence only occurred when both authentic NO and the O2-/H2O2- generating system xanthine/xanthine oxidase were present. The results indicate that luminol chemiluminescence in phorbol-ester-activated Kupffer cells largely depends on L-arginine metabolism by NO synthase, requiring the concurrent formation of NO and O2-/H2O2.

Topics: Acridines; Amino Acid Oxidoreductases; Animals; Arginine; Catalase; Cell-Free System; In Vitro Techniques; Kupffer Cells; Luminescent Measurements; Luminol; Male; NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases; NADPH Oxidases; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitroarginine; omega-N-Methylarginine; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Superoxide Dismutase; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; Xanthine; Xanthine Oxidase; Xanthines