Endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitors in endothelial cells, endothelin-1 within the vessel wall, and intimal hyperplasia in perimenopausal human uterine arteries.

Abstract

The present experiments were designed to investigate the ability to produce nitric oxide, concentrations of N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), and asymmetric N(G), N(G)-dimethyl-L-arginine (ADMA) in endothelial cells, endothelin-1 within the vessel wall, and the degree of intimal hyperplasia (intima/media ratio) in perimenopausal human uterine arteries. According to the tentative classification based on basal cyclic GMP levels, 16 arteries could be grouped into groups I and II consisting of eight each. Net production of the nucleotide was significantly higher in group I than that in group II. Concentration of L-NMMA plus ADMA and endothelin-1 content were significantly higher in group II. All specimens from group I were histologically normal, whereas mild to severe intimal hyperplasia was observed in group II specimens. Although considerable individual variations were detectable in the intima/media ratio, L-NMMA plus ADMA and endothelin-1 (n = 35 each), there were significant and positive correlations between three parameters, indicating that intimal hyperplasia became greater as L-NMMA plus ADMA and endothelin-1 were increased. These results suggest that endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitors in endothelial cells and endothelin-1 within the vessel wall are important markers of intimal hyperplasia.

• Authors: Masashi Beppu, Satoshi Obayashi, Takeshi Aso, Moritaka Goto, Hiroshi Azuma
• Journal: Journal of cardiovascular pharmacology (J Cardiovasc Pharmacol) Vol. 39 Issue 2 Pg. 192-200 (Feb 2002) ISSN: 0160-2446 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11791004 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Endothelin-1
• Enzyme Inhibitors
• omega-N-Methylarginine
• Nitric Oxide
• symmetric dimethylarginine
• N,N-dimethylarginine
• Arginine
• Nitric Oxide Synthase
• Cyclic GMP

Topics

• Adult
• Arginine (analogs & derivatives, metabolism)
• Arteries (metabolism, pathology)
• Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
• Climacteric
• Cyclic GMP (biosynthesis)
• Endothelin-1 (metabolism)
• Endothelium, Vascular (metabolism, pathology)
• Enzyme Inhibitors (metabolism)
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Female
• Humans
• Hyperplasia
• In Vitro Techniques
• Middle Aged
• Muscle, Smooth, Vascular (metabolism, pathology)
• Nitric Oxide (biosynthesis)
• Nitric Oxide Synthase (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Tunica Intima (pathology)
• Tunica Media (pathology)
• Uterus (blood supply)
• omega-N-Methylarginine (metabolism)