Modulation of cerebral arterial tone by endothelium-derived relaxing factor.

This study was designed to further elucidate the role of the endothelium in regulation of cerebral vascular smooth muscle tone. Dose-dependent vasoconstrictive effects of serotonin (5-HT) were examined in endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded ring segments prepared from canine basilar and middle cerebral arteries. Some preparations were pretreated with 10(-5) M N omega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), an agent that inhibits the production of L-arginine-derived nitric oxide, one of the compounds proposed to be endothelium-derived relaxing factor. L-NNA alone elicited marked dose-dependent increases in tension in endothelium-intact preparations; a significantly smaller response was seen in endothelium-denuded preparations. The effects of L-NNA on endothelium-intact preparations were partially reversed by washing and treatment with L-arginine. The maximum tension induced by 5-HT was approximately doubled by removal of the endothelium as well as by L-NNA treatment of endothelium-intact preparations; a slight increase in maximum tension occurred in endothelium-denuded preparations treated with L-NNA. The concentration of 5-HT producing half-maximal contraction (ED50) was not affected by L-NNA. These data suggest that L-arginine-derived nitric oxide modulates canine cerebral arterial tone in both the resting state and during contraction with 5-HT.