1: Am J Hypertens. 1992 Dec;5(12 Pt 1):919-22. 

Sustained hypertension in the rat induced by chronic blockade of nitric oxide
production.

Johnson RA, Freeman RH.

Department of Physiology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia
65212.

It is well established that acute systemic blockage of L-arginine conversion to
nitric oxide by NW-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and other substituted
analogs of L-arginine produces vasoconstriction and elevates the blood pressure.
The present study in rats reports that chronic L-NAME injections (185 mumol/L/kg
body weight, intraperitoneally; every 12 h) for 4 days produces sustained
arterial hypertension which is fully and rapidly reversed by acute
administration of excess L-arginine. The magnitude of the hypertension is not
different between L-NAME treated rats fed normal or high sodium diets. The
results from this simple experimental model suggest that chronic blockade of
nitric oxide synthesis results in sustained arterial hypertension that is not
enhanced by sodium loading.

PMID: 1285942 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]