Evidence that endogenous nitric oxide modulates oedema formation induced by substance P.

The possibility that nitric oxide (NO) could have a role in the modulation of inflammatory oedema formation was investigated in rat skin using selective inhibitors of NO synthesis. Intradermally injected substance P (0.03-1 nmol) induced oedema which was inhibited by concurrent administration of the inhibitor of NO synthesis L-NG-nitro arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), but not by the enantiomer D-NAME. L-Arginine reversed the inhibitory effect of L-NAME. A second inhibitor of NO formation, L-NG-monomethyl arginine (L-NMMA), had a similar inhibitory effect on substance P-induced oedema. The results suggest that endogenous NO has a modulatory role in oedema formation induced by mediators of increased microvascular permeability.