Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis reduces the hypotension induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharides in the rat in vivo.

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.