Hypotrophic effect of long-term neuronal NO-synthase inhibition on heart and conduit arteries of the Wistar rats.

We demonstrate the effect of long-term nNOS inhibition with 7-nitroindazole (7NI) on the heart and conduit arteries. Ten weeks old Wistar rats were used: two groups of controls and rats receiving 7-NI (10 mg/kg b.w./day) for 6 weeks in drinking water. Blood pressure (BP) was measured by the plethysmographic method. In first group mesenteric, carotid and coronary arteries were excised after perfusion fixation (120 mmHg) for morphological study, in second group mesenteric artery was taken for functional investigation. 7NI did not affect BP, heart/body weight was decreased. In all arteries inner diameter (ID) did not changed, wall thickness (WT) (intima+media), cross sectional area (CSA) (intima+media), and WT/ID decreased. In carotid artery volume density (VD) (percentual proportion) of intima and media did not change; VD and CSAs of endothelial and smooth muscle cells decreased, CSAs of extracellular matrix in intima and media did not change. No difference was found in relaxation of mesenteric artery to acetylcholine (10(-9)-10(-5) mol/L). Contraction induced by transmural nerve stimulation (8 Hz) augmented and contraction to exogennous noradrenaline (10(-9)-10(-5) mol/L) attenuated. Long-term 7NI administration evoked pressure independent cardiac hypotrophy and due to decrease of endothelial and smooth muscle cell mass arterial wall hypotrophy associated with decreased contractile efficiency.