Antithrombotic role of nitric oxide in rats under physiological conditions

SummaryAlthough sepsis-induced release of nitric oxide (NO) is known to have an antithrombotic effect, it is unknown if NO exerts this same effect under physiological conditions. We have therefore attempted to determine whether or not NO protects against thrombus formation in normal Wistar rats injected with various amounts (0.8, 4.0, 20.0 and 100mg/kg/4hr) of L-NAME (N (omega)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester), an NO synthase inhibitor, via the tail vein. Plasma levels of D-dimer fragments of fibrin were significantly increased in rats receiving L-NAME (0.21±0.04, 0.22±0.05, 0.26±0.07, 0.59±0.17µg/mL, means±SE; p