The effects of L‐arginine and NG‐monomethyl L‐arginine on the response of the rat anococcygeus muscle to NANC nerve stimulation

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Abstract
The effect of the competitive inhibitor of L‐arginine, NG‐monomethyl L‐arginine (L‐NMMA) on the response of the rat anococcygeus muscle to non‐adrenergic, non‐cholinergic (NANC) inhibitory nerve stimulation has been examined. L‐NMMA causes a rise in muscle tone and inhibition of the response to nerve stimulation. The stereoisomer D‐NMMA is without effect. The rise in tone and inhibition of the nerve response is reversed by L‐arginine. Another analogue, L‐canavanine, which is effective against L‐arginine utilization in the macrophage, was without effect on the rat anococcygeus. These results provide indirect evidence for nitric oxide (NO) or a substance releasing NO as the transmitter of the NANC nerves in this tissue.