Functional argument for the existence of an avian nitric oxide synthase in muscle mitochondria: Effect of cold acclimation

We report the first evidence of a mitochondrial NO synthase (mtNOS) in bird skeletal muscle. In vitro, mtNOS activity stimulated by L-arginine reduced intermyofibrillar mitochondrial oxygen uptake and ATP synthesis rates, stimulated endogenous H(2)O(2) generation, but had no effect on oxidative phosphorylation efficiency. Arginine-induced effects were fully reversed by L-NAME, a known NOS inhibitor. When ducklings were cold exposed for 4 weeks, muscle mitochondria displayed an increased state 3 respiration, a reduced H(2)O(2) generation but no significant alteration in mtNOS activity. We conclude that mtNOS is expressed in avian skeletal muscle.