Skeletal muscle contractions stimulate cGMP formation and attenuate vascular smooth muscle myosin phosphorylation via nitric oxide

• Published in: FEBS letters 1998-07, Vol.431 (1), p.71-74
• Main Authors: Lau, Kim S., Grange, Robert W., Chang, Wen-Jinn, Kamm, Kristine E., Sarelius, Ingrid, Stull, James T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: [Ca2+]i, intracellular calcium; Animals; cGMP; CHAPS, 3-[(3-chlolamido propyl)dimethyl-ammonia]-1-propane sulfonate; Cyclic GMP - metabolism; DMD, Duchenne's muscular dystrophy; EDTA, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; eNOS, endothelial nitric oxide synthase; HRP, horse radish peroxidase; Humans; Hz, hertz; In Vitro Techniques; iNOS, inducible nitric oxide synthase; L-NMMA, N G-monomethyl-l-arginine; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Muscle Contraction; Muscle, Skeletal - blood supply; Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular - metabolism; Muscular Dystrophies - metabolism; Myosin Light Chains - metabolism; Myosins - metabolism; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Nitric oxide synthase; NLA, N G-nitro-l-arginine; nNOS, neuronal nitric oxide synthase; NO, nitric oxide; NOS, nitric oxide synthase; Phosphorylation; Physical Exertion; PSS, physiological salt solution; PVDF, polyvinylidene fluoride; RLC, regulatory light chain; sGC, soluble guanylyl cyclase; Skeletal muscle; SNP, sodium nitroprusside; Space life sciences; TLCK, N-α-p-tosyl-l-lysine chloromethyl ketone; Vascular smooth muscle; Vasodilation
• ISSN: 0014-5793; 1873-3468
• DOI: 10.1016/S0014-5793(98)00728-5

Nitric oxide generated by neuronal nitric oxide synthase in contracting skeletal muscle fibers may regulate vascular relaxation via a cGMP-mediated pathway. Neuronal nitric oxide synthase content is greatly reduced in skeletal muscles from mdx mice. cGMP formation increased in contracting extensor digitorum longus muscles in vitro from C57 control, but not mdx mice. The increase in cGMP content was abolished with N G-nitro- l-arginine. Sodium nitroprusside treatment increased cGMP levels in muscles from both C57 and mdx mice. Skeletal muscle contractions also inhibited phenylephrine-induced phosphorylation of smooth muscle myosin regulatory light chain. Arteriolar dilation was attenuated in contracting muscles from mdx but not C57 mice. NO generated in contracting skeletal muscle may contribute to vasodilation in response to exercise.