EFFECTS OF L-ARGININE AND L-NITRO-ARGININE TREATMENT ON BLOOD-PRESSURE AND CARDIAC-OUTPUT IN A RABBIT ENDOTOXIN-SHOCK MODEL

Objective: To verify the effect of nitric oxide system modification du ring sepsis, not only in terms of pressure but also in terms of perfus ion flow. Design: Experimental, comparative study. Setting: Laboratory of a university hospital. Subjects: Twenty-six New Zealand male rabbi ts (2 to 2.5 kg body weight) were studied under anesthesia. Interventi ons: Nitric oxide pathways were modified during shock-induced hypotens ion, using L-arginine (600 mg/kg) and L-nitro-arginine (7.5 mg/kg), wh ich were infused 75 mins after endotoxin injection.