A nitric oxide (NO)-selective electrode was used to directly measure NO release from isolated rat aortic endothelium and cultured rat aortic endothelial cells (RAECs). Basal release of NO was significantly attenuated by a NO synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (1 mM) to 42 +/- 14 pmol/1 x 10(5) cells (P < 0.01). The basal release of NO was also significantly inhibited by a calmodulin antagonist W-7 at 15 microM (P < 0.01). L-Arginine (1 mM), significantly stimulated NO release (P < 0.05 vs. control basal release). Stimulation of cultured RAECs with two endothelium-dependent vasodilators, acetylcholine (100 nM) and A-23187 (1 microM), significantly increased NO release [574 +/- 112 pmol/1 x 10(5) cells (n = 5) and 658 +/- 119 pmol/1 x 10(5) cells (n = 5) in acetylcholine- and A-23187-stimulated RAECs, respectively]. Basal release of NO was also detectable in isolated rat aortic rings with intact endothelium. NO release was significantly attenuated by NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester and augmented by human superoxide dismutase. These data indicate the physiological usefulness of the amperometric measurement of NO employing a NO-specific electrode in biological systems.