ENOS uncoupling and endothelial dysfunction in aged vessels.

ABSTRACT: Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) uncoupling is a mechanism that leads to endothelial dysfunction. Previously, we reported that shear stress-induced release of nitric oxide in vessels of aged rats was significantly reduced and was accompanied by increased production of superoxide (18, 27). In the present study, we investigated the influence of aging on eNOS uncoupling. Mesenteric arteries were isolated from young (3 mo) and aged (24 mo) C57 BL/6J mice. The expression of eNOS protein in young vs. aged mice was not significantly different. However, the aged mice had remarkable increases in the ratio of eNOS monomers to dimers and N(omega)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester-inhibitable superoxide formation. The level of nitrotyrosine in the total protein and precipitated eNOS of aged vessel

SUBMITTER: Yang YM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2781386 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature