Permissive role for nitric oxide in active thermoregulatory vasodilation in rabbit ear

The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that during whole body heating (WBH), nitric oxide (NO) synthesized in the endothelium acts synergistically with an unknown neurotransmitter to elicit active vasodilation. Rabbits were instrumented for the measurement of mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and ear blood flow (EBF) (Doppler ultrasound). During WBH, either N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 10-40 mg over 10-15 min, n = 6 rabbits; group 1), a NO synthase inhibitor, or saponin (30-40 mg over 10-20 min, n = 6 rabbits; group 2), a detergent that denudes the endothelium, was given via a lingual artery catheter until thermoregulatory vasodilation was reversed. When EBF stabilized at the new reduced level, the NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), was infused (0.2-1.0 mg/ml, 0.01-0.05 ml/min, 2-5 min) via the lingual artery catheter. During WBH, EBF increased from 0.39 +/- 0.08 to 6.47 +/- 0.63 kHz in group 1, and from 0.69 +/- 0.18 to 5.72 +/- 0.49 kHz in group 2. Infusion of L-NAME decreased EBF in group 1 to 1.97 +/- 0.40 kHz. Infusion of saponin decreased EBF in group 2 to 1.23 +/- 0.40 kHz. Subsequent SNP infusion during hyperthermia returned EBF to 6.88 +/- 0.72 kHz in group 1 and 5.53 +/- 1.27 kHz in group 2 but had no effect when administered during normothermia. These results suggest that NO acts in conjunction with another substance, presumably the neurotransmitter released on WBH, to elicit thermoregulatory vasodilation.