Inhibition of endothelium-dependent vasodilation by Escherichia coli endotoxemia.

To test the hypothesis that release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor/nitric oxide is inhibited by Gram-negative lipopolysaccharide (LPS; endotoxin), we examined endothelium-independent and endothelium-dependent vasodilator agents in aortic vascular smooth muscle isolated from guinea pigs 4 h after injection of saline (controls) or induction of Escherichia coli endotoxemia. LPS significantly inhibited vasodilator responses to the endothelium-dependent agonists acetylcholine (ACh; 10(-10)-10(-5) M) and ADP (10(-8)-10(-5) M). However, LPS did not affect vasodilator responses to the endothelium-independent agonist nitroprusside (10(-10)-10(-4) M). The nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor N gamma-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) inhibited the vasodilator response to ACh; whereas, the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (INDO) did not reduce vasodilator effects of ACh. Neither L-NAME nor INDO affected the vasodilator effects of nitroprusside in LPS or control vessels. In contrast, L-NAME converted the vasodilator action of ADP to a vasoconstrictor response that was blocked individually by INDO and the thromboxane synthase inhibitor dazoxiben, suggesting that ADP releases NO and also the vasoconstrictor and platelet aggregating eicosanoid thromboxane A2. These findings suggest that acute (4 h) endotoxemia inhibits function of the constitutive isoform of NOS in vascular endothelial cells. Since L-NAME unmasked a vasoconstrictor action of the endogenous purinoceptor agonist ADP, pharmacologic agents that inhibit NOS may exacerbate LPS-induced inhibition of endothelial NOS; this series of events could lead to diminution of vasodilator reserves and perhaps to augmentation of platelet aggregation during Gram-negative sepsis.