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Hypertension in mice lacking the gene for endothelial nitric oxide synthase

Nature volume 377, pages 239–242 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

NITRIC oxide (NO), a potent vasodilator produced by endothelial cells, is thought to be the endothelium-dependent relaxing factor (EDRF) which mediates vascular relaxation in response to acetylcholine, bradykinin and substance P in many vascular beds1-6. NO has been implicated in the regulation of blood pressure and regional blood flow4-6, and also affects vascular smooth-muscle prolifera-tion and inhibits platelet aggregation and leukocyte adhesion. Abnormalities in endothelial production of NO occur in atherosclerosis, diabetes and hypertension7. Pharmacological blockade of NO production with arginine analogues such as i -nitroarginine (L-NA) or L-N-arginine methyl ester affects multiple isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and so cannot distinguish their physiological roles8,9. To study the role of endothelial NOS (eNOS) in vascular function, we disrupted the gene encoding eNOS in mice. Endothelium-derived relaxing factor activity, as assayed by acetylcholine-induced relaxation, is absent, and the eNOS mutant mice are hypertensive. Thus eNOS mediates basal vasodilation. Responses to NOS blockade in the mutant mice suggest that non-endothelial isoforms of NOS may be involved in maintaining blood pressure.

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Author notes

  1. Mark C. Fishman: To whom correspondence should be addressed at the Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital East, 149 East 13th Street, Charlestown, Massechusetts 02129, USA.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiovascular Research Center, Medical Services, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, 02129, USA

    Paul L. Huang, Kenneth D. Bloch & Mark C. Fishman

  2. Stroke Research Laboratory, Neurology Department, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, 02129, USA

    Zhihong Huang, Hiroshi Mashimo & Michael A. Moskowitz

  3. Department of Pharmacology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, 05405, USA

    John A. Bevan

Authors
  1. Paul L. Huang
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  2. Zhihong Huang
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  3. Hiroshi Mashimo
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  4. Kenneth D. Bloch
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  5. Michael A. Moskowitz
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  6. John A. Bevan
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  7. Mark C. Fishman
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Huang, P., Huang, Z., Mashimo, H. et al. Hypertension in mice lacking the gene for endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Nature 377, 239–242 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/377239a0

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