Vascular smooth muscle cell polyploidy and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy due to chronic NOS inhibition by in vivo

Research was conducted to study the vascular and cardiac response of nitric oxide synthase blockade in vivo in rats. Blood pressure was determined by tail-cuff plethysmography in conscious, restrained rats while the aorta was dissected and prepared for aortic rings for functional studies. Results indicated that nitric oxide deficiency in vivo results in the development of vascular and cardiac hypertrophy. They also showed that no significant difference in nitric oxide expression in the aorta or heart despite marked functional and structural changes.