Inhibition of constitutive and inducible nitric oxide synthase: potential selective inhibition

Nitric oxide (NO) is a molecule that has been shown to be involved in a diverse array of physiological events. A variety of disease states and disorders are, in fact, due to either an over- or an underproduction of NO. As a result of the ubiquity and diversity of NO-mediated phenomenon, pharmacological manipulation is difficult. NO biosynthesis is the result of an oxidation of a terminal nitrogen on the amino acid arginine by a class of enzymes generally referred to as the nitric oxide synthases (NOSs). Since the various isoforms of NOS are distributed in cells and tissues according to their function, there is the possibility that manipulation of NO levels can be accomplished by designing specific pharmacological agents targeted at a single NOS isoform. Thus, this review discusses general inhibition of the NOSs by a variety of agents and then focuses on the possibility of developing agents for specific isoform inhibition.

The protective effect of tetrahydrobiopterin on the nitric oxide-mediated inhibition of purified nitric oxide synthase

The nitric oxide synthases (NOS) are a class of enzymes responsible for the generation of NO via an oxygen and NADPH dependent oxidation of the amino acid arginine. These enzymes are ironheme proteins which contain FAD and FMN and, enigmatically, require tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). NOS has recently been shown to be subject to inhibition by its product, NO. Preliminary data by us indicate that a possible role for BH4 is to prevent and/or reverse the NO-mediated inhibition of NOS. The objective of this study was to elucidate the mechanism by which BH4 protects NOS against NO inhibition. Protection of NOS from NO inhibition was observed by both BH4 and the BH4 regeneration system, dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR)/NADH. NO, rather than an oxidation product, appears to be the inhibitory species. Protection by BH4 is not likely due to a simple chemical reaction between BH4 and NO or its oxidation product, NO2. The results are consistent with a protective mechanism by which BH4 may act as a nonstoichiometric reducing agent for a redox active enzyme component, such as the ironheme, to prevent NO ligation.

Chemistry of nitric oxide: biologically relevant aspects

This discussion of NO chemistry has addressed only certain aspects that may be of biological relevance. It is not meant to be a comprehensive in-depth treatment of general NO chemistry. For more information regarding the chemistry of NO and related nitrogen oxides, the reader is referred to a number of reviews (Ragsdale, 1973; Schwartz and White, 1983; Vosper, 1975; McCleverty, 1979; Gilbert and Thomas, 1972; Bonner and Hughes, 1988). Hopefully, it has become evident that an appreciation and knowledge of the chemistry of NO are key to understanding its physiological utility as well as its toxicology. It appears that Nature exploits a variety of the unique chemical aspects of NO in order to attain the needed physiological specificity. For example, the specific activation of guanylate cyclase by NO is most likely due to its unique binding properties to iron hemes. Also, the inherent lack of reactivity of NO makes it a fairly innocuous species unless it is coupled with other radical species, such as O2-. This chemical property thus allows NO to be utilized as a physiological messenger molecule and, under certain conditions, as a cytotoxic effector molecule as well.

Inhibition of purified nitric oxide synthase from rat cerebellum and macrophage by L-arginine analogs

The inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity by a variety of L-arginine-related compounds has been investigated. The inhibitory properties of NG-amino-, NG-methyl-, NG-hydroxy-, NG-ethyl-, NG-allyl-, NG, NG-dimethyl-, NG-methoxy-L-arginine, and several other L-arginine derivatives were compared in NOS purified from both macrophage and rat cerebellum. Also, these compounds were tested for their potential as alternate substrates by determining their ability to elicit NADPH consumption by NOS. NG-Methoxy-L-arginine appears to be an alternate substrate for NOS, whereas most other L-arginine analogs, except for the biosynthetic intermediate NG-hydroxy-L-arginine, do not elicit significant enzyme turnover.

Formation of free nitric oxide from l-arginine by nitric oxide synthase: direct enhancement of generation by superoxide dismutase

Although nitric oxide (NO) appears to be one of the oxidation products of L-arginine catalyzed by NO synthase (NOS; EC 1.14.13.39), past studies on the measurement of NO in cell-free enzymatic assays have not been based on the direct detection of the free NO molecule. Instead, assays have relied on indirect measurements of the stable NO oxidation products nitrite and nitrate and on indirect actions of NO such as guanylate cyclase activation and oxyhemoglobin oxidation. Utilizing a specific chemiluminescence assay, we report here that the gaseous product of L-arginine oxidation, catalyzed by both inducible macrophage and constitutive neuronal NOS, is indistinguishable from authentic NO on the basis of their physicochemical properties. NO gas formation by NOS was dependent on L-arginine, NADPH, and oxygen and inhibited by NG-methyl-L-arginine and cyanide anion. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) caused a marked, concentration-dependent increase in the production of free NO by mechanisms that were unrelated to the dismutation of superoxide anion or activation of NOS. These observations indicate that free NO is formed as a result of NOS-catalyzed L-arginine oxidation and that SOD enhances the generation of NO without directly affecting NO itself. SOD appears to elicit a novel biological action, perhaps accelerating the conversion of an intermediate in the L-arginine-NO pathway such as nitroxyl (HNO) to NO.

Nitric oxide inhibits neuronal nitric oxide synthase by interacting with the heme prosthetic group. Role of tetrahydrobiopterin in modulating the inhibitory action of nitric oxide

The objective of this study was to elucidate the mechanism by which nitric oxide (NO) inhibits NO synthase. Previous studies revealed that NO inhibits unpurified preparations of NO synthase. In the present study, the mechanism by which NO inhibits purified neuronal NO synthase from rat cerebellum was examined. The rate of L-citrulline formation from L-arginine was non-linear despite the presence of excess substrate and cofactors and was further inhibited by 30% by 200 units/ml superoxide dismutase. In contrast, 30 microM oxyhemoglobin increased NO synthase activity by 2-fold and made the reaction rate linear. These observations were consistent with the hypothesis that enzymatically generated NO inhibits NO synthase activity. Exogenous NO (0.1-10 microM) (but not NO2, nitrite, or nitrate) also inhibited NO synthase, and enzyme inhibition was not competitive with L-arginine. NO synthase inhibition by NO and other heme ligands supports the view that heme is involved in the catalytic activity of NO synthase. Oxyhemoglobin prevented but could not reverse enzyme inhibition by NO. NO synthase inhibition by NO was markedly diminished and reversed, however, by tetrahydrobiopterin (50 microM) or a tetrahydrobiopterin-regenerating system, and the latter made the reaction rate linear. In contrast, NO synthase inhibition by NO was markedly enhanced by heme oxidants (10 microM methylene blue; 3 microM ferricyanide), and these oxidants directly inhibited NO synthase activity. These observations suggest that NO interacts with enzyme-bound ferric heme to inhibit NO synthase activity. In support of this view, NO inhibited enzyme activity in the absence of turnover, when the heme iron is in the ferric state, and this inhibition was reversed by tetrahydrobiopterin. Therefore, the oxidation state of heme iron appears to be one important determinant for the inhibitory action of NO, and tetrahydrobiopterin may increase NO synthase activity by diminishing the inhibitory action of NO.

Inhibition of rat liver arginase by an intermediate in NO biosynthesis, NG-hydroxy-L-arginine: implications for the regulation of nitric oxide biosynthesis by arginase

NG-hydroxy-L-arginine, an intermediate in the biosynthesis of nitric oxide (NO), has been found to be a uniquely potent competitive inhibitor of rat liver arginase. Among previously reported inhibitors of arginase and the eight arginine analogs tested herein, only NG-hydroxy-L-arginine was found to be strongly inhibitory. Significantly, the Ki (42 microM) for inhibition of rat liver arginase by NG-hydroxy-L-arginine was found to be 20-40-fold lower than the KM (1-1.7 mM) for its natural substrate, L-arginine. Since NG-hydroxy-L-arginine is the only known intermediate in the biosynthesis of NO from L-arginine, this finding may have significant implications for the regulation of NO levels in tissues or cells, such as liver or macrophages, which synthesize both NO and contain arginase.

Involvement of nitroxyl (HNO) in the cyanamide-induced vasorelaxation of rabbit aorta

Relaxation of precontracted rabbit aortic rings in vitro by cyanamide, a clinically used alcohol deterrent drug, required catalase and H2O2, suggesting that a bioactivation mechanism was involved. Since the oxidation of cyanamide by catalase/H2O2 had been shown previously to lead to nitroxyl (HNO) generation via the intermediate N-hydroxycyanamide, and aortic ring relaxation was inhibited by the catalase inhibitor, 3-aminotriazole, HNO appears to be responsible for the vasorelaxation mediated by cyanamide. This was further supported by the observation that N,O-dibenzoyl-N-hydroxycyanamide (DBHC), a derivative of N-hydroxycyanamide that releases HNO in the absence of catalase/H2O2, was a potent vasorelaxant, with an EC50 of 4.2 +/- 1.3 x 10(-6) M.

The effect of nonionic detergents on the activity and/or stability of rat brain nitric oxide synthase

The results of this study indicate that the addition of low concentrations of a nonionic detergent such as those represented by the Tween, Brij, or Triton classes causes an apparent activation of nitric oxide synthase. It is possible that this apparent activation is due to the ability of these detergents to stabilize the protein. The stabilizing influence of the detergents may be a result of inhibiting the dissociation of the dimeric protein into monomers or the dissociation of an essential cofactor or prosthetic group from the active enzyme. Regardless of the mechanism of action, the addition of low concentrations of nonionic detergents results in longer and increased nitric oxide synthase activity and may be an important tool for those involved in enzymological studies of nitric oxide synthase.

Conversion of nitroxyl (HNO) to nitric oxide (NO) in biological systems: the role of physiological oxidants and relevance to the biological activity of HNO

Nitroxyl (HNO) and nitric oxide (NO) are chemically related compounds in that NO is the one-electron oxidation product of HNO. Previous studies from this laboratory indicated that HNO elicits pharmacological effects that are similar to those elicited by NO, namely, vascular smooth muscle relaxation and stimulation of cyclic GMP formation. The objective of the present study was to determine whether HNO could be converted to NO under physiological conditions and thereby account for the pharmacological actions of HNO. Utilizing the method of chemiluminescence detection, HNO was found to be readily converted to NO by a variety of ubiquitous biological oxidants including oxygen, superoxide dismutase, methemoglobin and flavins. The potency of HNO as a vasorelaxant using isolated rabbit aortic rings was markedly increased 30-fold by superoxide dismutase, whereas the potency of the NO-donor compound, S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), was increased only 2-fold. These data indicate that the ready conversion of HNO to NO may account for the biological activity of HNO. Thus, HNO and HNO-donor compounds represent good sources of NO.

Peracid oxidation of an N-hydroxyguanidine compound: a chemical model for the oxidation of N omega-hydroxyl-L-arginine by nitric oxide synthase

Arginine is oxidized by a class of enzymes called the nitric oxide synthases (NOS) to generate citrulline and, presumably, nitric oxide (.NO). N-Hydroxylation of a guanidinium nitrogen of arginine to generate N-hydroxyarginine (NOHA) has been shown to be a step in the biosynthesis of .NO. In an effort to elucidate the mechanism by which further oxidation of NOHA occurs, the oxidation of a model N-hydroxyguanidine compound by several peracids was studied in depth. This oxidative chemistry is a possible model for the enzymatic process since the corresponding urea (or citrulline equivalent product) is obtained along with an oxidized nitrogen species. The oxidized nitrogen product was, however, not .NO but rather HNO. .NO generation in this chemical system and in the enzymatic process would require another one-electron oxidation. The mechanistic details of this are further discussed.

Oxidation of nitric oxide in aqueous solution to nitrite but not nitrate: comparison with enzymatically formed nitric oxide from L-arginine

Nitric oxide (NO) in oxygen-containing aqueous solution has a short half-life that is often attributed to a rapid oxidation to both NO2- and NO3-. The chemical fate of NO in aqueous solution is often assumed to be the same as that in air, where NO is oxidized to NO2 followed by dimerization to N2O4. Water then reacts with N2O4 to form both NO2- and NO3-. We report here that NO in aqueous solution containing oxygen is oxidized primarily to NO2- with little or no formation of NO3-. In the presence of oxyhemoglobin or oxymyoglobin, however, NO and NO2- were oxidized completely to NO3-. Methemoglobin was inactive in this regard. The unpurified cytosolic fraction from rat cerebellum, which contains constitutive NO synthase activity, catalyzed the conversion of L-arginine primarily to NO3- (NO2-/NO3- ratio = 0.25). After chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel or affinity chromatography using 2',5'-ADP-Sepharose 4B, active fractions containing NO synthase activity catalyzed the conversion of L-arginine primarily to NO2- (NO2-/NO3- ratio = 5.6) or only to NO2-, respectively. Unpurified cytosol from activated rat alveolar macrophages catalyzed the conversion of L-arginine to NO2- without formation of NO3-. Addition of 30 microM oxyhemoglobin to all enzyme reaction mixtures resulted in the formation primarily of NO3- (NO2-/NO3- ratio = 0.09 to 0.20). Cyanide ion, which displaces NO2- from its binding sites on oxyhemoglobin, inhibited the formation of NO3-, thereby allowing NO2- to accumulate. These observations indicate clearly that the primary decomposition product of NO in aerobic aqueous solution is NO2- and that further oxidation to NO3- requires the presence of additional oxidizing species such as oxyhemoproteins.

Basal release of nitric oxide from aortic rings is greater in female rabbits than in male rabbits: implications for atherosclerosis

Estradiol is known to exert a protective effect against the development of atherosclerosis, but the mechanism of this hormonal action is unknown. One of the early events in the development of atherosclerosis is the adhesion of macrophages to endothelial cells, and nitric oxide (NO) inhibits this process. We show that basal release of NO is greater with endothelium-intact aortic rings from female rabbits than those from males. Oophorectomy diminishes both circulating estradiol concentration and basal release of NO to levels seen in male rabbits. These data establish that basal NO release from endothelium-intact aortic rings depends on circulating estradiol concentration and offer an explanation for the protective effect of estradiol against the development of atherosclerosis.

The pharmacological activity of nitroxyl: a potent vasodilator with activity similar to nitric oxide and/or endothelium-derived relaxing factor

Chemical oxidation of N-hydroxy-L-arginine (NOHA) and other N-hydroxyguanidines has been previously shown to generate either nitric oxide (NO) or nitroxyl (HNO), depending on the oxidative conditions. Because N-hydroxy-L-arginine has been demonstrated to be a biosynthetic intermediate in the oxidative conversion of arginine to endothelium-derived relaxing factor, the possible formation of HNO through a biological process was considered. This study, therefore, explores the biological activity of HNO as a possible effector molecule, and the results indicate that HNO is capable of eliciting vasorelaxation in both rabbit aorta and bovine intrapulmonary artery by a guanylate cyclase-dependent pathway. The pharmacological properties of HNO were very similar to those of endothelium-derived relaxing factor, and the possible relationship between HNO and endothelium-derived relaxing factor is discussed.

N,O-diacylated-N-hydroxyarylsulfonamides: nitroxyl precursors with potent smooth muscle relaxant properties

N,O-Diacylated-N-hydroxyarylsulfonamides are capable of slowly releasing nitroxyl (HNO) by simple, non-enzymatic hydrolysis in Krebs solution at 37 degrees C. Release of nitric oxide (NO) was not seen. These compounds were also found to elicit vasorelaxation in rabbit thoracic aorta in vitro, presumably as a result of their ability to release HNO. This effect was enhanced by the addition of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Thus, these results are consistent with previous work indicating that HNO is a potent vasorelaxant.

Chemical oxidation of N-hydroxyguanidine compounds. Release of nitric oxide, nitroxyl and possible relationship to the mechanism of biological nitric oxide generation

N omega-Hydroxy-L-arginine was found to cause vasodilation in arginine-depleted rabbit aorta. It is, therefore, likely to be a biosynthetic intermediate in the conversion of arginine to nitric oxide in this tissue. N-Hydroxyalkylguanidine compounds, including N omega-hydroxy-L-arginine were oxidized with various oxidizing agents and examined for their ability to release nitric oxide. All oxidizing agents tested were capable of oxidizing the N-hydroxyguanidine function but only lead tetra-acetate (Pb(OAc)4) and potassium ferricyanide/hydrogen peroxide (K3FeCN6/H2O2) were capable of generating significant amounts of nitric oxide. Oxidation with K3FeCN6, lead oxide (PbO2) and silver carbonate (Ag2CO3) resulted instead in the release of nitrous oxide (N2O) presumably through the initial release of nitroxyl (HNO).

Inhibition of cytochrome P-450 2E1 by diallyl sulfide and its metabolites

Diallyl sulfide, a major flavor ingredient from garlic, was previously shown to inhibit chemically induced carcinogenesis and cytotoxicity in animal model systems. It modulated cytochrome P-450 compositions by inactivating P-450 2E1 and inducing P-450 2B1. The present studies examined the inhibition of P-450 2E1 mediated p-nitrophenol hydroxylase activity by diallyl sulfide and its putative metabolites diallyl sulfoxide and diallyl sulfone (DASO2). Each compound displayed competitive inhibition of p-nitrophenol hydroxylase activity in incubations using liver microsomes from acetone-pretreated male Sprague-Dawley rats. Preincubation of the microsomes with DASO2 inactivated p-nitrophenol hydroxylase activity in a process that was time- and NADPH-dependent and saturable, exhibited pseudo-first-order kinetics, was protected by alternate substrate, was accompanied by a loss of microsomal P-450-CO binding spectrum, and was unaffected by exogenous nucleophile. The Ki value for DASO2 was 188 microM and the maximal rate of inactivation was 0.32 min-1. DASO2 was ineffective in the inactivation of ethoxyresorufin dealkylase, pentoxyresorufin dealkylase, or benzphetamine demethylase activity. Purified P-450 2E1 in a reconstituted system was inactivated in a time- and NADPH-dependent manner by DASO2. The metabolic conversion of diallyl sulfide to the sulfoxide and sulfone was observed in vivo and in vitro. The results suggest that diallyl sulfide inhibits the metabolism of P-450 2E1 substrates by competitive inhibition mechanisms and by inactivating P-450 2E1 via a suicide-inhibitory action of DASO2.

Determination of the mechanism of demethylenation of (methylenedioxy)phenyl compounds by cytochrome P450 using deuterium isotope effects

The mechanism of demethylenation of (methylenedioxy)benzene (MDB), (methylenedioxy)amphetamine (MDA), and (methylenedioxy)methamphetamine (MDMA) by purified rabbit liver cytochrome P450IIB4 has been investigated by using deuterium isotope effects. A comparison of the magnitude and direction of the observed kinetic isotope effects indicates that the three compounds are demethylenated by different mechanisms. The different mechanisms of demethylenation have been proposed on the basis of comparisons of the observed biochemical isotope effects with the isotope effects from purely chemical systems.

Transformation of dopamine and alpha-methyldopamine by NG108-15 cells: formation of thiol adducts

The catecholamines, alpha-methyldopamine (alpha-MeDA) and dopamine (DA), have been implicated in 3,4-(methylenedioxy)amphetamine (MDA) toxicity. The toxicity and metabolic fate of alpha-MeDA, a metabolite of MDA, and DA, a neurotransmitter released by MDA administration, were examined in NG108-15 cells. Both catechols were found to accumulate intracellularly into NG108-15 cells. alpha-MeDA was about 4 times more toxic than DA in the cells. The depletion of glutathione (GSH) by buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) resulted in a drastic increase (10 times) in the alpha-MeDA mediated toxicity while the toxicity of DA was enhanced by 2 times. DA was largely metabolized to dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and, to a smaller extent, formed an adduct with GSH. alpha-MeDA was primarily metabolized to a GSH adduct. alpha-MeDA was also metabolized to a product which was identified as the cysteinyl adduct. These adducts were identified by HPLC coelution with authentic standards. The GSH and cysteinyl adducts are presumably formed through conjugation of the thiols with intermediary quinone oxidation products of DA and alpha-MeDA. Previous studies indicate that alpha-MeDA is significantly more toxic than DA, especially under conditions of GSH depletion. The results of this study suggest that alpha-MeDA toxicity may occur through cytoplasmic accumulation and oxidation to a reactive quinone species followed by reaction with vital thiol functions or generation of reactive oxygen species. Cytoplasmic DA levels, on the other hand, appear to be significantly lower due to MAO metabolism and vesicular storage, and therefore, DA appears less likely to form conjugates with thiol groups or participate in possible redox cycling.

N omega-hydroxy-L-arginine: a novel arginine analog capable of causing vasorelaxation in bovine intrapulmonary artery

This study describes the effects of N omega-hydroxy-L-arginine (NOHA) on endothelium dependent and endothelium independent relaxation of bovine pulmonary artery. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that NOHA is a biosynthetic intermediate in the production of nitric oxide from arginine. N omega-Hydroxy-L-arginine causes both endothelium dependent and endothelium independent vasorelaxation, similar to that of arginine. This NOHA elicited relaxation was also inhibitable by N-methylarginine, N-nitroarginine and N-aminoarginine.

Modulation of rat hepatic microsomal monooxygenase enzymes and cytotoxicity by diallyl sulfide

Diallyl sulfide (DAS) and other organosulfur compounds inhibit chemically induced carcinogenic and toxic responses in rodent model systems. A possible mechanism of action is the inhibition of the hepatic cytochrome P450IIE1-dependent bioactivation of the procarcinogens and protoxicants. Previous work showed competitive inhibition by DAS of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) demethylase activity in vitro, and a reduction in the microsomal level of P450IIE1 after in vivo treatment with DAS. The present studies demonstrated a time- and dose-dependent decrease of hepatic microsomal P450IIE1 activity, induction of P450IIB1 and pentoxyresorufin dealkylase activity, and moderate induction of ethoxyresorufin dealkylase activity by oral DAS treatment. DAS treatment elevated P450IIB1 mRNA but had no effect on P450IIE1 mRNA. Treatment with putative metabolites of DAS, diallyl sulfoxide and diallyl sulfone, led to similar modulations in monooxygenase activities, but the decrease of P450IIE1 activity by the sulfone occurred more rapidly. In studies in vitro, diallyl sulfone caused a metabolism-dependent inactivation of P450IIE1, but such inactivation was not observed with DAS or diallyl sulfoxide. The profile of microsomal testosterone metabolism after DAS treatment indicated an enhancement of P450IIB1-dependent 16 beta-hydroxylase activity, and a decrease in 6 beta-hydroxytestosterone production possibly related to a lower level of P450IIIA1 or IIIA2. When rats were subjected to a 48-hr fast and DAS treatment, the starvation-induced microsomal P450IIE1 level was decreased by DAS. Inhibition of hepatotoxicity due to exposure to P450IIE1 substrates, CCl4 and NDMA, by DAS was observed under a variety of treatment schedules.

Shear stress-induced release of nitric oxide from endothelial cells grown on beads

An in vitro bioassay system was developed to study endothelium-mediated, shear stress-induced, or flow-dependent generation of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF). Monolayers of aortic endothelial cells were grown on a rigid and large surface area of microcarrier beads and were packed in a small column perfused with Krebs bicarbonate solution. The perfusate was allowed to superfuse three endothelium-denuded target pulmonary arterial strips arranged in a cascade. Fluid shear stress caused a flow-dependent release of EDRF from the endothelial cells. The action of EDRF was abolished by oxyhemoglobin and methylene blue, and the generation of EDRF in response to shear stress was markedly inhibited or abolished by NG-nitro-L-arginine, by NG-amino-L-arginine, by calcium-free extracellular medium, and by depleting endothelial cells of endogenous L-arginine. Addition of L-arginine to arginine-deficient but not arginine-containing endothelial cells rapidly restored the capacity of shear stress and bradykinin to generate EDRF. These observations indicate that fluid shear stress causes the generation of EDRF with properties of nitric oxide from aortic endothelial cells and that the bioassay system described may be useful for studying the mechanism of mechanochemical coupling that leads to nitric oxide generation.

Comparative studies of N-hydroxylation and N-demethylation by microsomal cytochrome P-450

The N-hydroxylation of representative aromatic amines by rabbit liver microsomes was mediated by cytochrome P-450 as demonstrated by the sensitivity to carbon monoxide and other cytochrome P-450 inhibitors. The rate of N-hydroxylation was increased by induction with phenobarbital. Involvement of isozyme LM2 (P-50IIB1) was demonstrated in reconstituted systems. Aromatic N-hydroxylation was substantially faster and more efficient than aliphatic N-hydroxylation, while N-demethylation of aromatic and aliphatic dimethylamines was comparable in rate and efficiency. Aliphatic N-hydroxylation showed no rate increase with increasing pH despite the predicted increase in the concentration of the neutral substrate. The relative rates of N-hydroxylation and N-demethylation were compared for a series of para-substituted aromatic amines. The rate of demethylation of para-substituted N,N-dimethylanilines, as measured both by product formation and by NADPH consumption, correlated with the electronic parameter sigma and with the Hansch lipophilicity parameter pi. N-Hydroxylation of a similar series of anilines did not show a dependence on the electronic parameter but was dependent on the lipophilicity parameter. The differing dependence on the electronic parameter suggests that there are different rate-determining processes of N-oxidation for these two reactions.

Nitric oxide and cyclic GMP formation upon electrical field stimulation cause relaxation of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle

In the presence of functional adrenergic and cholinergic blockade, electrical field stimulation relaxes corpus cavernosum smooth muscle by unknown mechanisms. We report here that electrical field stimulation of isolated strips of rabbit corpus cavernosum promotes the endogenous formation and release of nitric oxide (NO), nitrite, and cyclic GMP. Corporal smooth muscle relaxation in response to electrical field stimulation, in the presence of guanethidine and atropine, was abolished by tetrodotoxin and potassium-induced depolarization, and was markedly inhibited by NG-nitro-L-arginine, NG-amino-L-arginine, oxyhemoglobin, and methylene blue, but was unaffected by indomethacin. The inhibitory effects of NG-substituted analogs of L-arginine were nearly completely reversed by addition of excess L-arginine but not D-arginine. Corporal smooth muscle relaxation elicited by electrical field stimulation was accompanied by rapid and marked increases in tissue levels of nitrite and cyclic GMP, and all responses were nearly abolished by NG-nitro-L-arginine. These observations indicate that penile erection may be mediated by NO generated in response to nonadrenergic-noncholinergic neurotransmission.