Long term administration of L-arginine, L-NAME, and the exogenous NO donor molsidomine modulates urinary nitrate and cGMP excretion in rats

Abstract

Determination of urinary NO3- excretion by gas chromatography is a sensitive and specific method to assess NO formation in vivo. Long term oral administration of L-arginine in MWF rats increases NO production (as assessed by the urinary excretion rates of NO3- and cyclic GMP), but does not significantly influence systolic blood pressure, whereas L-NAME induces sustained hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy due to inhibition of NO formation.