This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Costa, F. Articles by Biaggioni, I. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Costa, F. Articles by Biaggioni, I.

(Hypertension. 1998;31:1061-1064.)
© 1998 American Heart Association, Inc.

Scientific Contributions

Role of Nitric Oxide in Adenosine-Induced Vasodilation in Humans

Fernando Costa; ; Italo Biaggioni

From the Clinical Research Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn.

Correspondence to Italo Biaggioni, MD, Clinical Research Center, AA3228 MCN, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232-2195. E-mail italo.biaggioni{at}mcmail.vanderbilt.edu

Abstract—Vasodilation is one of the most prominent effects of adenosine and one of the first to be recognized, but its mechanism of action is not completely understood. In particular, there is conflicting information about the potential contribution of endothelial factors. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of nitric oxide in the vasodilatory effect of adenosine. Forearm blood flow responses to intrabrachial adenosine infusion (125 µg/min) were assessed with venous occlusion plethysmography during intrabrachial infusion of saline or the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N^G-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) (12.5 mg/min). Intrabrachial infusions of acetylcholine (50 µg/min) and nitroprusside (3 µg/min) were used as a positive and negative control, respectively. These doses were chosen to produce comparable levels of vasodilation. In a separate study, a second saline infusion was administered instead of L-NMMA to rule out time-related effects. As expected, pretreatment with L-NMMA reduced acetylcholine-induced vasodilation; 50 µg/min acetylcholine increased forearm blood flow by 150±43% and 51±12% during saline and L-NMMA infusion, respectively (P<.01, n=6). In contrast, L-NMMA did not affect the increase in forearm blood flow produced by 3 µg/min nitroprusside (165±30% and 248±41% during saline and L-NMMA, respectively) or adenosine (173±48% and 270±75% during saline and L-NMMA, respectively). On the basis of our observations, we conclude that adenosine-induced vasodilation is not mediated by nitric oxide in the human forearm.

Key Words: adenosine • blood flow • nitric oxide • vasodilation • acetylcholine • nitroprusside

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. L. Vega, C. Puebla, R. Vasquez, M. Farias, J. Alarcon, M. Pastor-Anglada, B. Krause, P. Casanello, and L. Sobrevia TGF-{beta}1 inhibits expression and activity of hENT1 in a nitric oxide-dependent manner in human umbilical vein endothelium Cardiovasc Res, June 1, 2009; 82(3): 458 - 467. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. P. Mortensen, M. Nyberg, P. Thaning, B. Saltin, and Y. Hellsten Adenosine Contributes to Blood Flow Regulation in the Exercising Human Leg by Increasing Prostaglandin and Nitric Oxide Formation Hypertension, June 1, 2009; 53(6): 993 - 999. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. A. Martin, W. T. Nicholson, J. H. Eisenach, N. Charkoudian, and M. J. Joyner Bimodal distribution of vasodilator responsiveness to adenosine due to difference in nitric oxide contribution: implications for exercise hyperemia J Appl Physiol, August 1, 2006; 101(2): 492 - 499. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Gamboa, A. C. Ertl, F. Costa, G. Farley, M. L. Manier, D. L. Hachey, A. Diedrich, and I. Biaggioni Blockade of Nucleoside Transport Is Required for Delivery of Intraarterial Adenosine Into the Interstitium: Relevance to Therapeutic Preconditioning in Humans Circulation, November 25, 2003; 108(21): 2631 - 2635. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Jacob, F. Costa, S. Vincent, D. Robertson, and I. Biaggioni Neurovascular Dissociation With Paradoxical Forearm Vasodilation During Systemic Tyramine Administration Circulation, May 20, 2003; 107(19): 2475 - 2479. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. H. Buus, M. Bottcher, F. Hermansen, M. Sander, T. T. Nielsen, and M. J. Mulvany Influence of Nitric Oxide Synthase and Adrenergic Inhibition on Adenosine-Induced Myocardial Hyperemia Circulation, November 6, 2001; 104(19): 2305 - 2310. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. K. Naber, D. Baumgart, C. Altmann, W. Siffert, R. Erbel, and G. Heusch eNOS 894T allele and coronary blood flow at rest and during adenosine-induced hyperemia Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, November 1, 2001; 281(5): H1908 - H1912. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Jacob, F. Costa, J. Shannon, D. Robertson, and I. Biaggioni Dissociation Between Neural and Vascular Responses to Sympathetic Stimulation : Contribution of Local Adrenergic Receptor Function Hypertension, January 1, 2000; 35(1): 76 - 81. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Costa, P. Sulur, M. Angel, J. Cavalcante, V. Haile, B. Christman, and I. Biaggioni Intravascular Source of Adenosine During Forearm Ischemia in Humans : Implications for Reactive Hyperemia Hypertension, June 1, 1999; 33(6): 1453 - 1457. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]