Hypothermia on NO-Mediated Neurogenic Relaxation and on Hypoxic Inhibition in the Response of Canine Cerebral Arteries

Cerebral arteries are innervated by nitric oxide (NO)-mediated vasodilator nerves, and hypoxia has been shown to attenuate neurogenic vasorelaxation. The present study examines the effects of hypothermia on neurogenic vasorelaxation and on the hypoxia-induced inhibition of the neurogenic vasorelaxation response. In isolated canine cerebral arteries, relaxant responses to transmural electrical stimulation (5 Hz for 40 s), mediated via NO synthesized from L-arginine, were not influenced by lowering the bathing media temperature from 37°C to 30°C but were attenuated at 25°C. On the other hand, relaxations caused by nicotine and exogenous NO were not significantly attenuated but were prolonged by cooling to 25°C. The responses associated with nerve stimulation by electrical pulses or nicotine were depressed by hypoxia (from about 500 mmHg of partial O2 pressure to about 45 mmHg) under normothermia. However, hypothermia at 25°C prevented the inhibition by hypoxia of the neurogenic relaxation. It is concluded that the hypothermia-induced inhibition in the response to electrical nerve stimulation is not associated with a decreased synthesis and release of NO in vasodilator nerves nor with a reduced ability of smooth muscle to relax in response to NO. Interference with the propagation of action potentials might be involved in the inhibition via a fall of temperature. The fact that the hypoxia-induced impairment of vasodilator nerve function was prevented by cooling may partially explain the efficacy of hypothermia in protecting against ischemic neuronal injury in the brain. (Hypertens Res 2001; 24: 47-53)