PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF S-NITROSO-N-ACETYL-PENICILLAMINE IN ENDOTOXIN-INDUCED ACUTE INTESTINAL DAMAGE IN THE RAT

Macroscopic jejunal damage and plasma leakage induced within 15 min by E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS 50 mg kg-1 i.v.) in the rat was enhanced by the inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) formation, N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA 50 mg kg-1 i.v.). The nitro-vasodilator, S-nitroso-N-acetyl-pencillamine (SNAP; 10-mu-g kg-1 min-1 i.v.), which generates NO, attenuated both LPS-induced intestinal damage and the enhancement of such damage and plasma leakage produced by L-NMMA. Endogenous NO may thus have a protective role in the intestinal vasculature that can be mimicked by generators of NO.