Permissive contributions of NO and prostacyclin in CO-induced cerebrovascular dilation in piglets

Endogenously produced CO is an important dilator in newborn cerebrovascular circulation. CO dilates cerebral arterioles by activating Ca2+-activated K+ channels, but modulatory actions of other effectors and second messenger inputs are unclear. Specifically, the mechanisms behind the obligatory permissive roles of prostacyclin and NO are uncertain. Therefore, the present study was performed using acutely implanted, closed cranial windows in newborn pigs to address the hypothesis that the permissive roles of NO and prostacyclin in cerebrovascular dilation in response to CO involve a common mechanism. The NO donor sodium nitroprusside restored dilation in response to CO after inhibition of that dilation with the prostaglandin cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin. The stable prostacyclin analog iloprost restored CO-induced dilation blocked by the NO synthase inhibitor N-omega-nitro-L-arginine. Restoration of dilation in response to CO by the cGMP-dependent phosphodiesterase inhibitor zaprinast and blockade of CO dilation by the guanylyl cyclase inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4] oxadiazole-[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) suggests involvement of the cGMP/PKG pathway. Iloprost or the cAMP-dependent dilator isoproterenol restored dilation in response to CO after ODQ administration. However, CO-induced dilation blocked by the cGMP-dependent PKG inhibitor Rp-8-[(4-chlorophenyl)thio]-cGMPS triethylamine could not be reversed by administration of sodium nitroprusside, iloprost, or isoproterenol. Conversely, PKA inhibition did not block dilation in response to CO. Overall, data indicate that activation of PKG is the predominant mechanism of the permissive actions of NO and prostacyclin for CO-induced pial arteriolar dilation.