Constitutively synthesized nitric oxide is a physiological negative regulator of mammalian angiogenesis mediated by basic fibroblast growth factor.

We recently reported that the systemically administered nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor Nw-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, L-NAME, administered before, during and after the angiogenic treatment stimulated angiogenesis induced by basic fibroblast growth factor, bFGF, in the rat. This suggests that suppression of constitutively expressed NOS, cNOS, plus inducible NOS, iNOS, and thus reduced production of nitric oxide, NO, was the stimulating factor. In those studies, the rat mesenteric-window angiogenesis assay was used. Moreover, the systemic administration of a NO releaser inhibited bFGF-mediated angiogenesis. Using the same experimental system, we have now studied whether the inhibition of cNOS alone in adult animals under physiological conditions, i.e. prior to the administration of the angiogenic stimulation with bFGF, affected the subsequent angiogenic response. cNOS constitute endothelial cell NOS (ecNOS) and neuronal NOS (nNOS). L-NAME or its inactive enantiomer Nw-nitro-D-arginine methyl ester, D-NAME, were given continuously in the drinking water (1.0 g/L) during 14 days prior to the start of the treatment with bFGF. The treatment with L-NAME significantly enhanced the subsequent angiogenic response. NO synthesized under physiological conditions by ecNOS in endothelial cells and platelets or nNOS in platelets may thus act as a first constitutional angiostatic factor in bFGF-mediated mammalian angiogenesis.