Alterations in Endogenous Nitric Oxide Production After Cardiopulmonary Bypass in Lambs With Normal and Increased Pulmonary Blood Flow

Abstract

Modest decreases in basal NO production, the inability to increase NO production, or both may play a role in the altered pulmonary vascular reactivity after CPB. The decrease in NO is independent of gene expression. However, other mechanisms for this decrease, such as substrate or cofactor availability, warrant further study.