Endotoxin-induced mesenteric microvascular changes involve iNOS-derived nitric oxide:: Results from a study using iNOS knock out mice

The administration of endotoxin alters intestinal blood flow, increases nitric oxide (NO) production, and induces gut barrier dysfunction. Thus, we investigated the hypothesis that microvascular reactivity and permeability of the mesenteric vascular bed are altered to a lesser degree in iNOS knock out (iNOS -/-) mice than their wild-type (iNOS +/+) litter mates after an endotoxin challenge. To test this hypothesis, we compared the microvascular response of iNOS knockout (iNOS -/-) mice after a topical or systemic endotoxin challenge against that of their wild-type litter mates (iNOS +/+). Intravital microscopy was used to measure arteriolar diameter and postcapillary venular permeability in the mouse ileum. Both parameters were determined by computer-assisted image analysis. Diameter was measured in A(1), A(2), and A(3) arterioles (1, 2, 3 = rank of deployment). Changes in microvascular permeability were measured from changes in interstitial fluorescence caused by extravasation of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran 150 (molecular weight = 150 kDa) and expressed as changes in integrated optical intensity (101). In the first series of experiments, endotoxin (100 mu g/mL) was applied topically to the ileal segment. In the second series, endotoxin (10 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.). Administration of topical or i.p.. endotoxin caused vasoconstriction and was associated with an early increase in permeability in both iNOS +/+ and -/- mice, although over time the responses of the iNOS -/- and iNOS +/+ mice diverged. Twenty minutes after topical endotoxin, the increase in permeability in iNOS -/- mice had reached a plateau whereas it continued to increase in the iNOS +/+ mice, such that at 80 min post-topical endotoxin, 101 was 27 +/- 7 in iNOS -/- vs. 39 +/- 5 in iNOS +/+ (P < 0.05). A similar permeability response was observed after i.p.. endotoxin, where the increase in post-capillary venular permeability was greater in the iNOS +/+ mice (P < 0.05). Both iNOS -/- and iNOS +/+ mice had a similar transient vasoconstrictive response after topical endotoxin challenge (reduction in A2 arteriolar diameters by -17 +/- 4% vs. -24 +/- 7%), with return to baseline values by 60-80 min post-endotoxin challenge. The iNOS +/+ but not the iNOS -/- mice manifested a secondary vasodilatory response that persisted throughout the experimental period. The arteriolar vasoreactive response of the iNOS -/- and iNOS +/+ mice to i.p.. endotoxin was similar to that of topical endotoxin, but of a lesser magnitude. In conclusion, the similarity in effects between topical and systemic endotoxin indicates that endotoxin causes microvascular dysfunction in the gut by directly on the microcirculation. In addition, our data suggest that NO production by iNOS is involved in the microvascular alterations associated with gut barrier dysfunction.