Isoform-specific nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS) contributions to NO-mediated inhibition of sympathetic vasoconstriction in resting and contracting skeletal muscle are incompletely understood. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of neuronal NOS (nNOS) in the inhibition of sympathetic vasoconstriction in resting and contracting skeletal muscle of healthy rats. We hypothesized that acute pharmacological inhibition of nNOS would augment sympathetic vasoconstriction in resting and contracting skeletal muscle, demonstrating that nNOS is primarily responsible for NO-mediated inhibition of sympathetic vasoconstriction. Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 13) were anesthetized and instrumented with an indwelling brachial artery catheter, femoral artery flow probe, and lumbar sympathetic chain stimulating electrodes. Triceps surae muscles were stimulated to contract rhythmically at 60% of maximal contractile force. In series 1 (n = 9), the percent change in femoral vascular conductance (%FVC) in response to sympathetic stimulations delivered at 2 and 5 Hz was determined at rest and during muscle contraction before and after selective nNOS blockade with S-methyl-l-thiocitrulline (SMTC, 0.6 mg/kg iv) and subsequent nonselective NOS blockade with N(ω)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME, 5 mg/kg iv). In series 2 (n = 4), l-NAME was injected first, and then SMTC was injected to determine if the effect of l-NAME on constrictor responses was influenced by selective nNOS inhibition. Sympathetic stimulation decreased FVC at rest (-25 ± 7 and -44 ± 8%FVC at 2 and 5 Hz, respectively) and during contraction (-7 ± 3 and -19 ± 5%FVC at 2 and 5 Hz, respectively). The decrease in FVC in response to sympathetic stimulation was greater in the presence of SMTC at rest (-32 ± 6 and -49 ± 8%FVC at 2 and 5 Hz, respectively) and during contraction (-21 ± 4 and -28 ± 4%FVC at 2 and 5 Hz, respectively). l-NAME further increased (P < 0.05) the sympathetic vasoconstrictor response at rest (-47 ± 4 and -60 ± 6%FVC at 2 and 5 Hz, respectively) and during muscle contraction (-33 ± 3 and -40 ± 6%FVC at 2 and 5 Hz, respectively). The effect of l-NAME was not altered by the order of nNOS inhibition. These data demonstrate that NO derived from nNOS and endothelial NOS contribute to the inhibition of sympathetic vasoconstriction in resting and contracting skeletal muscle.
Keywords: blood flow; exercise; nitric oxide synthase; sympathetic nervous system.