THE EFFECT OF A NITRIC-OXIDE INHIBITOR (L-NAME) ON PERITONEAL TRANSPORT DURING DIALYSIS IN RATS

Objective: To assess the effect of an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthe sis [N-G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)] on peritoneal transpo rt during peritoneal dialysis (PD) and peritonitis in rats. Methods: T he authors studied peritoneal transport of small and large solutes, an d net ultrafiltration (UF) in rats during PD with Dianeal 3.86 (Baxter , McGaw Park, IL, U.S.A.). They evaluated the effect of L-NAME used as an additive to dialysis fluid in concentrations 0.5 - 5 mg/mL on peri toneal transport of small and large molecules and on transperitoneal U F. In addition, they studied the effect of L-NAME (5 mg/mL) during acu te peritonitis induced by lipopolysaccharides (5 mu g/mL) given intrap eritoneally. Results: The addition of L-NAME to dialysis fluid increas ed the selectivity of the peritoneum and net UF during dialysis. Lipop olysaccharides used as an additive to the dialysis fluid, together wit h L-NAME, did not induce changes in transperitoneal transport of small and large solutes and did not cause a significant decline in net UF. L-NAME given intraperitoneally reduced both local and systemic product ion of nitric oxide, which might explain its effects on peritoneal tra nsport. Conclusions: Nitric oxide is an important mediator of changes in peritoneal transport and its effect is especially significant durin g peritonitis.