Arginine vasopressin induces endothelium-dependent vasodilation of the pulmonary artery: V1-Receptor-mediated production of nitric oxide

P. R.B. Evora, P. J. Pearson, H. V. Schaff

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

156 Scopus citations

Abstract

Infusion of arginine vasopressin (AVP) decreases pulmonary artery pressure. To determine whether this is due to stimulated release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor in the pulmonary circulation, the authors studied segments of canine pulmonary artery suspended in organ chambers for measurement of isometric force. In segments in which contraction was induced with phenylephrine (10-6 mol), AVP (10-12 to 10-7 mol) produced concentration-dependent relaxation in segments with endothelium but not in segments without endothelium. Greater concentrations of AVP (3 x 10-7 to 3 x 10-5 mol) produced comparable contraction in segments with or without endothelium. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation in response to AVP was inhibited by N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (10-4 mol) and N(G)-monomethyl-L- arginine (L-NMMA) (10-4 mol), inhibitors of nitric oxide synthesis from L- arginine. The inhibitory effect of L-NMMA was attenuated by L-arginine (10- 4 mol). Endothelium-dependent vasodilation in response to AVP was inhibited reversibly by the vasopressin V1-blocker. Arginine vasopressin induces release of endothelium-derived nitric oxide through action on endothelial V1-receptors. Endothelium-derived nitric oxide mediates vasodilation, which may explain decreased pulmonary resistance during AVP infusion.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1241-1245
Number of pages5
JournalChest
Volume103
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1993

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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