Quantitative determination of endogenous nitric oxide in the mouse skin in vivo by microdialysis

We have developed a subcutaneous microdialysis system for the determination of nitric oxide (NO) concentration in the skin. The skin was microdialyzed using a degassed solution containing 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl 3-oxide and the perfusate was reacted on-line with Griess' reagent. This method could reveal NO production following intradermal injection of bradykinin (10-100 nmol/site) in mice. The increase in cutaneous NO after bradykinin (100 nmol/site) was dose dependently suppressed by the NO synthase Inhibitor, N-G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, and the bradykinin B-2, receptor antagonist, D-Arg-[Hyp(3), Thi(5.8), D-Phe(7)]bradykinin. This system may be useful for pharmacological and physiological experiments on the role of NO in the skin. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.