Local nitric oxide release does not affect tachyphylaxis to angiotensin II in dorsal hand veins in man in the presence of prostaglandin synthesis inhibition

AIMS: Local prostaglandin (PG) production contributes to tachyphylaxis to angiotensin II (ANGII) in veins. Our aim was to assess the hypothesis that local nitric oxide (NO) generation is also, in part, responsible for tachyphylaxis to ANGII in veins, using the Aellig dorsal hand vein technique. METHODS: Eight healthy male volunteers received 600 mg of aspirin (orally) to inhibit PG production. The venoconstrictor effects of ANGII and noradrenaline (NA) were then compared in dorsal hand veins during co-infusion of the NO synthase inhibitor L-NMMA or saline, on separate occasions. RESULTS: ANGII and NA produced a similar degree of initial venoconstriction. However, the response to ANGII was significantly attenuated by 12 min compared with NA (AUC 147 +/- 38 vs 196 +/- 40, respectively; [95% confidence interval for difference: 7, 92], P = 0.02). Infusion of L-NMMA did not influence the response to ANGII or NA (P = 0.2 and P = 0.3, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Tachyphylaxis to ANGII in dorsal hand veins is not dependent on local NO release.