Identification of inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase that do not interact with the endothelial cell L-arginine transporter

Br J Pharmacol. 1992 Apr;105(4):768-70. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1992.tb09053.x.

Abstract

The effects of inhibitors of nitric oxide (NO) synthase and other cationic amino acids on unidirectional L-arginine transport were studied in porcine aortic endothelial cells cultured in microwell plates or perfused in microcarrier columns. L-Homoarginine, L-lysine and L-ornithine inhibited transport of L-arginine. The NO synthase inhibitors NG-monomethyl-L-arginine and NG-iminoethyl-L-ornithine also reduced L-arginine uptake, whereas NG-nitro-L-arginine and its methyl-ester had no inhibitory effect. The ability to modulate selectively endothelial cell L-arginine transport or NO synthase activity will allow further characterization of the arginine transporter and its role in regulating NO biosynthesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Amino Acid Transport Systems
  • Animals
  • Arginine / analogs & derivatives
  • Arginine / metabolism*
  • Arginine / pharmacology
  • Biological Transport, Active / drug effects
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism*
  • NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase
  • Nitroarginine
  • Ornithine / analogs & derivatives
  • Ornithine / pharmacology
  • omega-N-Methylarginine

Substances

  • Amino Acid Transport Systems
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Nitroarginine
  • omega-N-Methylarginine
  • N(G)-iminoethylornithine
  • Arginine
  • Ornithine
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase
  • Amino Acid Oxidoreductases
  • NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester