Korean J Anesthesiol.  1999 Nov;37(5):885-892. 10.4097/kjae.1999.37.5.885.

Effects of L-Arginine and N-Nitro-L-Arginine Metheylester Treatment on Vasodilation of Propofol in Rat Thoracic Aortic Rings

• Ha MH
• Son HH
• Lim DG
• Baek WY
• Hong JG
• Kim BK
• Park JW

• KMID: 2239034
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.1999.37.5.885

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Propofol decreases arterial blood pressure. This has been ascribed to vasodilation and decreased cardiac output occurring separately or in combination. This study investigated the relaxant effects of propofol and the effects of L-arginine and L-NAME on the vasodilation of propofol in rat thoracic aortic rings.
METHODS
Isolated aortic rings were precontracted with phenylephrine (0.01 micrometer -10 micrometer) cumulatively and 10 minutes before the precontracted phenylephrine treatment, propofol was added cumulatively (1 micrometer-10 micrometer). The effects of L-NAME and L-arginine were evaluated by applying L-NAME (10 micrometer) and L-arginine (10 micrometer) after added propofol and before precontracted phenylephrine.
RESULTS
A low concentration of propofol (1 micrometer) did not reduce phenylephrine-induced contraction but a high concentration of propofol (over 10 micrometer) reduced it significantly. Propofol also relaxed rat thoracic aortic rings in an endothelium independent manner. The L-NAME and L-arginine treatment did not affect the propofol-induced relaxation.
CONCLUSIONS
Propofol was shown to have a biphasic vasoactive effect on rat thoracic aorta rings. The vasodilation effect of propofol was not related to the production of nitric oxide.

Keyword

Anesthetics, intravenous, propofol; Pharmacology, L-arginine, L-NAME

MeSH Terms

Animals
Aorta, Thoracic
Arginine*
Arterial Pressure
Cardiac Output
Endothelium
NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester
Nitric Oxide
Phenylephrine
Propofol*
Rats*
Relaxation
Vasodilation*
Arginine
NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester
Nitric Oxide
Phenylephrine
Propofol