Role of carbon monoxide in heme-induced vasodilation

F Kozma, RA Johnson, A Nasjletti - European journal of pharmacology, 1997 - Elsevier
F Kozma, RA Johnson, A Nasjletti
European journal of pharmacology, 1997Elsevier
We investigated the effects of carbon monoxide and heme-l-lysinate on the diameter of
isolated, pressurized gracilis muscle arterioles. Both agents increased arteriolar diameter.
The vasodilatory effect of heme-l-lysinate, but not of carbon monoxide was prevented by an
inhibitor of heme oxygenase. Hence, heme-l-lysinate-induced vasodilation appears to be
mediated by a product of vascular heme metabolism, presumably carbon monoxide. This
implies that vascular formation of carbon monoxide may subserve a vasodilatory function.
We investigated the effects of carbon monoxide and heme-l-lysinate on the diameter of isolated, pressurized gracilis muscle arterioles. Both agents increased arteriolar diameter. The vasodilatory effect of heme-l-lysinate, but not of carbon monoxide was prevented by an inhibitor of heme oxygenase. Hence, heme-l-lysinate-induced vasodilation appears to be mediated by a product of vascular heme metabolism, presumably carbon monoxide. This implies that vascular formation of carbon monoxide may subserve a vasodilatory function.
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