Blood oxygen transport in rats under hypothermia combined with modification of the L-arginine-NO pathway

Nitric oxide (NO) has high affinity to heme and by interaction with oxyhemoglobin (HbO(2)) is converted into nitrate to form methemoglobin (MetHb) as a side product. In combining with deoxy-Hb NO yields a stable molecule of nitrosyl-hemoglobin (HbFe(II)NO) that can further be converted into nitrate and hemoglobin (Hb). In addition, Hb was shown to transport NO in a form of S-nitrosohemoglobin (SNO-Hb). These features of the Hb and NO interaction are important for blood oxygen transport including hemoglobin-oxygen affinity (HOA). The present investigation was aimed to study the blood oxygen transport indices (pO(2), pCO(2), pH, HOA, etc.) in rats under hypothermia combined with a modification Of L-arginine-NO pathway. To modify the L-arginine-NO pathway, rats were administered with A-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), L-arginine, or sodium nitroprusside (SNP) intravenously before cooling. A substantial impairment of oxygen delivery and development of hypoxia, with an important contribution of HOA into the latter accompanied the deep hypothermia in rats. All the experimental groups developed metabolic acidosis, less pronounced in rats treated with L-arginine only. In the experiments with a modification of the L-arginine-NO pathway, an enhanced cold resistance, attenuated oxygen deficiency, and a weaker oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve (ODC) shift leftwards were observed only after the administration of L-arginine. Neither SNP nor L-NAME had not any protective effects. L-Arginine lowered the value of standard P-50 (pO(2), corresponding to 50% Hb saturation with oxygen at 37degreesC, pH 7.4, and pCO(2) = 40 mmHg). The actual P-50 (at actual pH, pCO(2) and temperature) decreased by approximately 15 mmHg and was significantly higher than that under hypothermia without the drug treatment (21.03 +/- 0.35 vs 17.45 +/- 0.60 mmHg). NO also can contribute to this system through different mechanisms (HOA modification, vascular tone regulation, peroxynitrite formation, and effects). (C) 2001 Elsevier Science (USA).