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Abstract
E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 15 mg kg-1 i.v.) produced a long-lasting reduction
in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) in the anaesthetized rat. Inhibition of nitric
oxide endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) synthesis with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine
(MeArg, 1 mg kg-1 min-1 i.v. for 30 min) produced an increase in MAP and largely attenuated
the LPS-induced hypotension; both effects were significantly reversed with L-arginine
(6 mg kg-1 min-1 i.v.). When compared to MeArg, phenylephrine (300 mg kg-1 h-1 i.v.)
produced a similar pressor response, but much less attenuation of the hypotensive
response to LPS. Thus, a stimulation of EDRF release contributes to the LPS-induced
hypotension in the anaesthetized rat.