Y. Hattori et al., TETRAHYDROBIOPTERIN AND GTP CYCLOHYDROLASE-I IN A RAT MODEL OF ENDOTOXIC-SHOCK - RELATION TO NITRIC-OXIDE SYNTHESIS, Experimental physiology, 81(4), 1996, pp. 665-671
Induction of the inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in
various types of cells is implicated as the cause of septic shock. We
evaluated the concentration of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), a cofactor o
f NOS, in plasma and various other tissues of rats treated with lipopo
lysaccharide (LPS; 10 mg/kg I.v.). The activity of GTP cyclohydrolase
I (GTPCH), the first and rate-limiting enzyme in the de novo synthesis
of BH4, in rat tissues was also determined. Three hours after adminis
tration of LPS, rats showed plasma levels of BH4 and NOx (NO3- and NO2
-) that were elevated by 137 and 206 %, respectively. GTPCH was expres
sed in liver and, to a lesser extent, in the lung, heart and kidney of
control rats. In control rats, although a high concentration of BH4 w
as detected in the liver, its level was lower in lung, heart, kidney a
nd aorta. Three hours after LPS administration, a significant increase
in BH4 concentration and/or GTPCH activity was observed in all tissue
s examined except the liver. Our results demonstrate that the de novo
synthesis of BH4 is upregulated by LPS in the rat in vivo, which may,
at least in part, account for the increases in plasma level and tissue
concentration of BH4 after the administration of LPS.