L-arginine restores the effect of ouabain on baroreceptor activity and prevents hypertension

In spontaneously hypertensive rats, ouabain exerts an excitatory effect on baroreceptor nerve activity (BNA). The aim of this study was to determine the effects of ouabain on BNA in other experimental models of hypertension and its interaction with nitric oxide. Rats were made hypertensive using the procedures for N-omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) salt, and 2-kidney, 1 clip (2K1C) hypertension models. In these groups, systolic arterial pressure was 195+/-7, 149+/-6, and 148+/-4 mm Hg, respectively, compared with 110+/-4 mm Hg in normotensive rats. Acute ouabain administration had an excitatory effect on BNA in normotensive rats (37+/-4%), an inhibitory effect in L-NAME hypertensive rats (-60+/-7%), and no effect in DOCA-salt and 2K1C hypertensive rats. The effects of ouabain were not related to arterial pressure levels, and no excitatory effect on BNA was observed in prehypertensive DOCA-salt rats. Long-term administration of L-arginine (3 g.kg(-1).day(-1)) prevented DOCA-salt (121+/-8 mm Hg) and 2K1C (104+/-4 mm Hg) hypertension, markedly attenuated L-NAME (130+/-9 mm Hg) hypertension, and restored the excitatory effect of ouabain on BNA in these groups to levels similar to the normotensive rats and their respective control groups. We conclude that ouabain has a diverse effect on BNA in experimental models of hypertension, and it can be normalized by L-arginine. The data also indicate that nitric oxide may play a pivotal role in mediating the excitatory effect of ouabain on BNA, and we speculate that a therapeutic combination of ouabain and L-arginine may be beneficial in secondary hypertension.