Chronic Inhibition of Nitric Oxide Synthesis Causes Coronary Microvascular Remodeling in Rats

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Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of long-term blockade of nitric oxide synthesis with the l-arginine analogue Nω−nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) for 8 weeks on coronary vascular and myocardial structural changes. Four groups of Wistar-Kyoto rats were studied: those with no treatment, those treated with L-NAME 1 g/L (3.7 mmol/L in drinking water), those treated with L-NAME 0.1 g/L (0.37 mmol/L in drinking water), and those treated with L-NAME 1.0 g/L and hydralazine 120 mg/L (0.6 mmol/L in drinking water). After 8 weeks, the heart was excised, and the degrees of structural changes in coronary arteries (wall-to-lumen ratio and perivascular fibrosis), myocardial fibrosis, and myocyte size were quantified by an image analyzer. Chronic inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis increased arterial pressure compared with control animals. Chronic inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis caused significant microvascular remodeling (increased wall-to-lumen ratio and perivascular fib...