Up-regulation of nNOS and associated increase in nitrergic vasodilation in superior mesenteric arteries in pre-hepatic portal hypertension

Background/Aims: Splanchnic arterial vasodilation in portal hypertension has been attributed largely to vascular NO overproduction. Three NO-synthase (NOS) isoforms have been identified of which e(ndothelial)-NOS has been found up-regulated and i(nducible)-NOS not expressed in the splanchnic circulation in portal hypertension. So far, n(euronal)-NOS has not been investigated and hence, the current study evaluates nNOS-expression and nNOSmediated vasorelaxation in a model of portal vein-ligated rats (PVL). Methods: Mesenteric vasculature of PVL and sham rats was evaluated for nNOS-protein (immunohistochemically and Western blotting). In vitro perfused de-endothelialized mesenteric arterial vasculature was pre-constricted with norepinephrine (EC80) and tested for nNOS-mediated vasorelaxation by periarterial nerve stimulation (PNS, 2‐12 Hz, 45 V) before and after incubation with the NOS-inhibitor L-NAME (10 K4 M). Results: nNOS was localized to the adventitia of the mesenteric arterial tree showing more intense staining and increased protein expression in PVL as compared to sham rats. PNS induced a frequency-dependent vasorelaxation, which was more pronounced in PVL rats. L-NAME abolished this difference in nerval-mediated vasorelaxation, the effect being significantly greater in PVL than in sham animals. Conclusions: Perivascular nNOS-protein expression is enhanced in mesenteric arteries in portal hypertension mediating an increased nerval NO-mediated vasorelaxation. This nNOS-derived NO overproduction may play an important role in the pathogenesis of arterial vasodilation in portal hypertension. q 2005 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.