Arginine is a physiological precursor of endothelium-derived nitric oxide

• Published in: European journal of pharmacology Vol. 154; no. 2; p. 213
• Main Authors: Schmidt, H H, Nau, H, Wittfoht, W, Gerlach, J, Prescher, K E, Klein, M M, Niroomand, F, Böhme, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 13-09-1988
• Subjects: Animals; Aorta, Thoracic - metabolism; Arginine - metabolism; Biological Factors - metabolism; Endothelium, Vascular - metabolism; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; In Vitro Techniques; Luminescent Measurements; Male; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Nitrogen Radioisotopes; Rabbits; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
• ISSN: 0014-2999
• DOI: 10.1016/0014-2999(88)90101-X

ATP dose dependently stimulated the formation and release of nitric oxide (NO) from perfused rabbit aorta. L-Canavanine, an inhibitor of various L-arginine-utilizing enzymes, abolished basal and ATP-induced NO formation and release. ATP increased the accumulation of presumably NO-derived NO2- in the medium of primary cultures of bovine aortic endothelial cells. 15NO, 15NO2- and 15NO3- formation was found when L-[guanido-15N2]arginine was added to the culture medium. We conclude that the terminal guanidino nitrogens of L-arginine are the physiological precursors of endothelium-derived NO.