(Circulation. 2000;101:311.)
© 2000 American Heart Association, Inc.
Basic Science Reports |
From the Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan.
Correspondence to Masafumi Kitakaze, MD, PhD, Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita City, Osaka Prefecture 565-0871, Japan. E-mail kitakaze{at}medone.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
| Abstract |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Methods and ResultsIn open-chest dogs, coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) was reduced in the left anterior descending coronary artery so that CBF decreased to one third of the control level, and thereafter CPP was maintained constant (103±8 to 43±3 mm Hg, n=9). We obtained fractional shortening (FS) and lactate extraction ratio (LER) as indices of regional myocardial contraction and metabolism. Both FS (26.4±2.1% to 6.7±2.0%, n=9, P<0.001) and LER (32±6% to -37±5%, n=9, P<0.001) showed a decrease when CPP was reduced. After intracoronary infusion of nifedipine (4 µg · kg-1 · min-1), CBF increased from 30±1 to 48±4 mL · 100 g-1 · min-1 (P<0.01) without a change of CPP (n=9). Both FS (14.0±1.9%, n=9) and LER (-9±7%, n=9) also increased (P<0.01). Nifedipine increased the difference in the level of metabolites of NO (nitrate+nitrite; 9±3 to 25±5 nmol/mL, n=9, P<0.01) and bradykinin (22±5 to 58±4 pmol/mL, n=9, P<0.01) between coronary venous and arterial blood. L-NAME (an NO synthase inhibitor) or HOE-140 (a bradykinin receptor antagonist) attenuated (P<0.05) the increase in CBF (29±3 and 35±2 mL · 100 g-1 · min-1, n=5 each), FS (4.8±0.6% and 6.9±1.7%, n=5 each), LER (-47±8% and -35±9%, n=5 each), and nitrate+nitrite (3±2 and 8±4 nmol/mL, n=5 each) due to nifedipine infusion.
ConclusionsThese results indicate that the calcium channel blocker nifedipine mediates coronary vasodilation and improves myocardial ischemia through both bradykinin/NO-dependent and -independent mechanisms.
Key Words: nitric oxide bradykinin ischemia blood flow
| Introduction |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Therefore, we examined whether the calcium channel blocker nifedipine increases CBF via either NO-dependent or -independent mechanisms in ischemic canine hearts. We measured the concentrations of stable degradation products of NO (nitrate+nitrite) in coronary arterial and venous blood. Furthermore, we examined whether an NO synthase inhibitor or a bradykinin receptor antagonist could attenuate nifedipine-induced coronary vasodilation and the production of NO in ischemic hearts.
| Methods |
|---|
|
|
|---|
In 39 dogs subjected to protocols I through III, a small, short
collecting tube (diameter 1 mm, length 7 cm) was inserted into a
small coronary vein near the center of the perfused region to
sample coronary venous blood. The drained venous blood was
collected in a reservoir placed at the level of the left atrium and was
returned via the jugular vein. Left ventricular pressure
was measured with a micromanometer (Konigsberg P-5)
placed through the apex into the left ventricular cavity.
Two pairs of ultrasonic crystals were placed on the inner one third of
the myocardium
1 centimeter apart to measure the
myocardial segmental length with an ultrasonic dimension gauge
(Schuessler, 5 MHz). End-diastolic length was determined at
the R wave of the ECG, and end-systolic length was determined
at the minimum dP/dt.6 We calculated fractional shortening
(FS) as an index of myocardial contractility in the
perfused region.6
Nifedipine was obtained from Bayer, and we purchased NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), HOE-140, and bradykinin from Sigma. L-NAME, HOE-140, and bradykinin were dissolved in saline. Nifedipine was dissolved in a mixture of 15% ethanol, 15% polyethylene glycol 400, and 70% distilled water (by volume) and was administered into the coronary artery. The amount of solvent infused was the same in protocols I through IV (0.33 mL/min). In the preliminary study, intracoronary infusion of the solvent for 30 minutes did not change CBF (91±2 to 97±4 mL · 100 g-1 · min-1, n=5), FS (24.4±2.1% to 26.2±1.6%, n=5), or lactate extraction ratio (LER) (27.2±3.1% to 23.2±2.1%, n=5).
Experimental Protocols
Protocol 1: Effect of Intracoronary Administration of
Nifedipine on Coronary Hemodynamic
and Metabolic Parameters in the
Nonischemic Myocardium
Five dogs were used in this protocol. Coronary
arterial and venous blood were sampled for blood gas
analysis and for determination of the levels of NO metabolites
(nitrate+nitrite) and bradykinin. Hemodynamic
parameters, ie, left ventricular pressure,
dP/dt, and segmental length in the perfused region, were also measured.
Four doses (1, 2, 4, and 8 µg ·
kg-1 · min-1) of
nifedipine were administered into the LAD for 5 minutes
each (n=5). It took 3 minutes to obtain stable coronary
hemodynamic conditions. Between 4 and 5 minutes
into each infusion of nifedipine, coronary
arterial and venous blood were sampled and systemic and
coronary hemodynamic parameters
were measured. In the preliminary study (n=3), we found that 8
µg · kg-1 ·
min-1 of nifedipine was the minimum
dose that increased CBF by 100% and was the maximum dose that did not
cause systemic hemodynamic effects when infused into
the coronary artery for 10 minutes. The order of
nifedipine doses for intracoronary infusion was
randomized. In the same dogs, we also infused the same 4 doses of
nifedipine for 5 minutes each after the onset of infusion
of L-NAME (10 µg · kg-1 ·
min-1) or HOE-140 (0.5 ng ·
kg-1 · min-1). In
a preliminary study, we confirmed that the dose of either L-NAME or
HOE-140 attenuated the coronary vasodilatory action of
bradykinin (20 ng · kg-1 ·
min-1 IC) by 85±6% and 89±7%, respectively
(n=5). Either L-NAME (n=5) or HOE-140 (n=5) was administered into the
LAD 5 minutes before the administration of nifedipine. We
measured the hemodynamic parameters and
sampled coronary arterial and venous blood 4
minutes after the onset of infusion of either L-NAME or HOE-140. In 5
dogs, we also examined whether this dose of L-NAME attenuated
papaverine (15, 30, and 60 µg ·
kg-1 · min-1
IC)induced coronary vasodilation.
Protocol 2: Effect of Nifedipine on Coronary
Hemodynamic and Metabolic
Parameters in the Ischemic Myocardium
(Constant Low CPP)
Nineteen dogs were used in this protocol. After
hemodynamic stabilization, CPP was reduced so that CBF
was decreased to 33% of the control CBF with an occluder attached to
the extracorporeal bypass tube. After a low level of CPP was obtained,
the occluder was adjusted to keep CPP constant. All of the
hemodynamic parameters were measured 10
minutes after the onset of hypoperfusion, and both coronary
arterial and venous blood were sampled. After these
measurements, nifedipine (4 µg ·
kg-1 · min-1, n=9)
was infused into the LAD, and measurement of all
hemodynamic and metabolic
parameters was repeated after 10 minutes. The dose of 4
µg · kg-1 ·
min-1 of nifedipine was the maximum
dose that caused maximal coronary vasodilation. Thereafter, the
infusion of nifedipine was discontinued, and
hemodynamic and metabolic
parameters were observed at 20 minutes. In other dogs, we
infused nifedipine after treatment with either L-NAME (10
µg · kg-1 ·
min-1, n=5) or HOE-140 (0.5 ng ·
kg-1 · min-1,
n=5). The time and order of administration of the drugs before the
onset of coronary hypoperfusion were the same as in protocol 1.
We observed the hemodynamic parameters and
sampled coronary arterial and venous blood as in
the control group at 4 minutes after the onset of infusion of either
L-NAME or HOE-140.
Protocol 3: Effect of Nifedipine on Coronary
Hemodynamic and Metabolic
Parameters in the Ischemic Myocardium
(Constant Low CBF)
Because an increase in CBF may increase shear stress in the
coronary arteries, which may secondarily increase the cardiac
NO level in ischemic hearts, we tested the effect of
nifedipine on cardiac NO levels under constant low CPP. In
15 dogs, after hemodynamic stabilization, CPP was
reduced so that CBF was decreased to 33% of the control CBF with an
occluder attached to the extracorporeal bypass tube. After a low level
of CBF was obtained, the occluder was adjusted to keep CBF constant.
All of the hemodynamic parameters were
measured 10 minutes after the onset of hypoperfusion, and both
coronary arterial and venous blood were sampled.
After these measurements, nifedipine (4 µg ·
kg-1 · min-1, n=5)
was infused into the LAD, and measurements of all
hemodynamic and metabolic
parameters were repeated after 10 minutes. Thereafter, the
infusion of nifedipine was discontinued, and
hemodynamic and metabolic
parameters were observed at 20 minutes. In other dogs, we
infused nifedipine after treatment with either L-NAME (10
µg · kg-1 ·
min-1, n=5) or HOE-140 (0.5 ng ·
kg-1 · min-1,
n=5). The time and order of administration of the drugs before the
onset of coronary hypoperfusion were the same as in protocol
2.
Protocol 4: Effect of Nifedipine on the cGMP Content of
Epicardial Coronary Arteries in Ischemic Hearts
In 20 dogs, we investigated whether nifedipine
increased the cGMP content of the epicardial arteries in the
ischemic myocardium. With an occluder attached to
the extracorporeal bypass tube, CPP was reduced so that CBF decreased
to one third of the control CBF. After a low CPP was established, the
occluder was adjusted to keep CPP at a constant low level. After this
low CPP was maintained for 10 minutes, we infused either
nifedipine (4 µg ·
kg-1 · min-1,
n=10) or the solvent (n=10) into the LAD for 10 minutes with and
without L-NAME. Next, we rapidly removed the epicardial LAD
(ischemic region) and left circumflex coronary artery
(nonischemic control region) using precooled scissors and a
pair of large tweezers and stored the sampled vessels in liquid
nitrogen.
Biochemical Analysis
Lactate concentration was assessed by an enzymatic
assay.7 LER was calculated by multiplying the
coronary arteriovenous difference in the lactate concentration
by 100 and dividing it by the arterial lactate
concentration.
The methods for NO8 and bradykinin9 measurement have been described previously. For these measurements, 2 mL of blood was sampled.
The method of tissue cGMP measurement has been described previously.10
Statistical Analysis
Statistical analysis was performed among the groups by
ANOVA.11 12 When ANOVA revealed a significant difference,
Bonferronis correction was applied.12 All values were
expressed as mean±SEM. A value of P<0.05 was considered
significant.
| Results |
|---|
|
|
|---|
VA(NO)], as shown in Figure 1
VA(bradykinin): 1.2±1.8
pmol/mL at baseline to 3.4±1.5, 12±2 (P<0.01), 23±4
(P<0.05), and 27±2 (P<0.01) pmol/mL with 1, 2,
4, and 8 µg · kg-1 ·
min-1 of nifedipine, respectively
(n=5 each)]. Nifedipine increased CBF dose-dependently
(Figure 2
|
|
Effect of Nifedipine on Coronary
Hemodynamic and Metabolic
Parameters in the Ischemic Myocardium
(Constant Low CPP) (Protocol 2)
The baseline systolic and diastolic blood
pressure and heart rate were 142±4 (n=19) and 82±4 (n=19) mm Hg
and 136±4 bpm, respectively (n=19) in the control state. Neither the
intracoronary administration of L-NAME, HOE-140, or
nifedipine nor the reduction of CPP significantly changed
these parameters. In the low-constant-CPP protocol, 10
minutes after the reduction in CPP,
VA(NO) (Figure 3
) and
VA(bradykinin) (2.0±3.3 at
baseline to 22±5 pmol/mL, P<0.05, n=9 each) were
increased, and nifedipine further increased
VA(NO)
(Figure 3
) and
VA(bradykinin) (58±4 pmol/mL,
P<0.01, n=9 each). In accordance with the increase in
VA(NO), nifedipine increased CBF despite the constant
CPP (Figure 4
). FS and LER, which
were reduced after the onset of coronary hypoperfusion,
were increased by nifedipine administration (Figure 5
). These beneficial effects of
nifedipine on the ischemic heart were attenuated by
either L-NAME or HOE-140.
|
|
|
Effect of Nifedipine on Coronary
Hemodynamic and Metabolic
Parameters in the Ischemic Myocardium
(Constant Low CBF) (Protocol 3)
The baseline systolic and diastolic
blood pressure and heart rate were 140±3 (n=15) and 86±2 (n=15)
mm Hg and 141±2 bpm (n=15), respectively, in the control state.
Neither the intracoronary administration of L-NAME, HOE-140, or
nifedipine nor the reduction of CPP significantly changed
these parameters. In the ischemic hearts with a low
constant CBF,
VA(bradykinin) (2.0±3.0 pmol/mL at baseline to 28±5
pmol/mL, P<0.05, n=5 each) was increased, and
nifedipine further increased
VA(bradykinin) (56±7
pmol/mL, P<0.05, n=5 each). Nifedipine also
increased
VA(NO), which was attenuated by L-NAME (Figure 6
). Nifedipine decreased CPP
because of coronary vasodilation, and this change was
attenuated by either L-NAME or HOE-140 (Figure 7
). Because CBF remained constant,
neither FS nor LER was altered (Figure 8
).
|
|
|
Effect of Nifedipine on the cGMP Content of
Epicardial Coronary Arteries in Ischemic Hearts
(Protocol 4)
Because NO increases cellular cGMP levels, we measured cGMP levels
in the epicardial coronary artery with and without
nifedipine. Without L-NAME (CPP 105±3 to 47±3
mm Hg, CBF 89±2 to 30±2 mL · 100
g-1 · min-1, n=5
each), nifedipine increased the cGMP content of the
epicardial coronary arteries (247±13 versus 156±15 fmol/mg
wet wt (P<0.05) with and without nifedipine in
the ischemic region, n=5 each), and this effect was blunted by
treatment with L-NAME (49±8 versus 56±9 fmol/mg wet wt,
P=NS, with and without nifedipine in the
ischemic region, n=5 each).
| Discussion |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Nifedipine-Induced NO Production and
Coronary Vasodilation in Nonischemic or Ischemic
Hearts
It is reported that amlodipine increases NO production by
canine coronary endothelial cells but that
nifedipine does not.5 This result may seem to
be contradictory to our findings, although it is not. First, Zhang and
Hintze5 observed NO production only by
coronary arterial endothelial
cells. NO is produced not only by endothelial
cells13 but also by cardiac myocytes,14
erythrocytes,15 platelets,16
leukocytes,17 and fibroblasts18 in the heart.
Therefore, it may be possible that nifedipine stimulates NO
release from cells other than endothelial cells.
Second, because nifedipine increases NO levels in the
ischemic myocardium more than in the
nonischemic myocardium, as revealed in the
present study, nifedipine may have a less potent effect
on NO production than amlodipine in the unstressed
nonischemic myocardium.
In nonischemic hearts, because L-NAME partially inhibited
nifedipine-induced coronary vasodilation in the
present study, the contribution of NO/bradykinin to
nifedipine-induced coronary vasodilation seemed to
be
30% (Figure 2
). The remainder of
nifedipine-induced coronary vasodilation is
attributable to the inhibition of Ca2+ entry into
coronary smooth muscle. In contrast,
nifedipine-induced coronary vasodilation was
largely attenuated by L-NAME in ischemic hearts, suggesting
that the effect of nifedipine on the ischemic
myocardium was more attributable to NO than its effect on
the nonischemic myocardium.
Mechanisms of the Nifedipine-Induced Increase
in NO Levels
Because calcium channel blockers increase CBF via inhibition
of Ca2+ entry into smooth muscle
cells2 and the increase in shear stress due to an increase
in CBF enhances NO production by endothelial
cells, one may argue that the increase in NO levels due to
nifedipine is secondary to the increase in shear stress
after the increase in CBF. In the present study, however, L-NAME
did not attenuate papaverine-induced coronary vasodilation, and
even when CBF was kept constant at a low level during infusion of
nifedipine, the cardiac NO level was increased. These
results indicate that nifedipine directly affected the
metabolism of NO.
Several stimuli exist that facilitate NO production. Acetylcholine, bradykinin, purines, and norepinephrine can all stimulate NO synthase.13 The receptors for one of these substances may already be stimulated because of ischemic stress, and nifedipine may increase the cardiac levels of one of these substances to stimulate the receptor. A calcium channel blocker is reported to activate kallikrein in the kidney,19 which may enhance the increase in bradykinin production in the ischemic heart. Indeed, we showed that nifedipine increases cardiac bradykinin levels, but in the present study we did not elucidate the cellular mechanisms by which nifedipine raises cardiac bradykinin levels.
Physiological and Clinical
Relevance
Interestingly, the coronary hemodynamic
and metabolic parameters did not completely
return to the baseline level by 20 minutes after the withdrawal of
nifedipine infusion during coronary hypoperfusion.
We observed these parameters for 40 minutes after the
discontinuation of nifedipine in the ischemic
hearts of other dogs, and we observed only a slight decrease in CBF,
but the parameters did not return to baseline, although
nifedipine was not detected in the coronary venous
blood (data not shown). Nifedipine may bind to the calcium
channels or may directly or indirectly affect NO synthase for several
hours to cause coronary vasodilation.
NO is believed to attenuate the severity of myocardial ischemia; NO increases CBF,3 decreases myocardial anaerobic metabolism,20 inhibits platelet aggregation14 and leukocyte activation,20 and attenuates sympathetic nerve activity21 in ischemic hearts. Furthermore, NO is reported to mediate cardioprotection in the late phase of ischemic preconditioning, because at 24 or 48 hours after a brief period of ischemia, NO has an infarct sizelimiting effect,22 which is blunted by L-NAME. The present results suggest that nifedipine may be beneficial for ischemic heart disease. However, nifedipine has not been found to be useful for myocardial salvage or reduction of myocardial ischemia in patients with acute myocardial infarction and patients with unstable angina. Indeed, in the presence of collateral vessels, nifedipine may cause the myocardial steal phenomenon and lead to worsening of ischemia in patients with ischemic heart disease. Therefore, we should be careful in extrapolating the present results to the clinical settings unless a large-scale clinical trial proves the utility of nifedipine.
| Acknowledgments |
|---|
Received May 5, 1999; revision received July 12, 1999; accepted July 28, 1999.
| References |
|---|
|
|
|---|
2.
Saida K, Van Breemen C. Mechanism of
Ca2+ antagonist-induced vasodilation:
intracellular actions. Circ Res. 1983;52:137142.
3. Bassenge E, Heusch G. Endothelial and neuro-humoral control of coronary blood flow in health and disease. Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol. 1990;116:77165.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
4. Fujimura Y, Tsuboi H, Esato K. Efficacy of benidipine hydrochloride on myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. J Surg Res. 1995;59:321325.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
5.
Zhang X, Hintze TH. Amlodipine releases nitric
oxide from canine coronary microvessels: an unexpected
mechanism of action of a calcium channel-blocking agent.
Circulation. 1998;97:576580.
6.
Kitakaze M, Node K, Minamino T, Asanuma H,
Kuzuya T, Hori M. A novel Ca channel blocker, benidipine, increases
coronary blood flow and attenuates the severity of myocardial
ischemia via NO-dependent mechanisms in the dogs. J
Am Coll Cardiol. 1999;33:242249.
7. Bergmeyer HU. Methods of Enzymatic Analysis. 1st ed. New York, NY: Academic Press Inc; 1963;266270.
8. Green LC, Wagner DA, Glogowski J, Skipper JS, Wishnok SR. Analysis of nitrate, nitrite and [15N]nitrate in biological fluids. Anal Biochem. 1982;126:131138.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
9. Mashford ML, Roberts ML. Determination of blood kinin levels by radioimmunoassay. Biochem Pharmacol. 1972;21:27272735.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
10. Honma M, Satoh T, Takezawa J, Ui M. An ultrasensitive method for the simultaneous determination of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP in small-volume samplings from blood and tissue. Biochem Med. 1977;18:257273.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
11. Snedecor GW, Cochran WG. Statistical Methods. Ames, Iowa: Iowa State University Press; 1972:258298.
12. Steel RGD, Torrie JH. Principles and Procedures of Statistics: A Biomedical Approach. 2nd ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Publishing Co; 1980:137238.
13.
Ignarro LJ, Buga GM, Wood KS, Byrns RE, Chaudhuri
G. Endothelium-derived relaxing factor produced and
released from artery and vein is nitric oxide. Proc Natl Acad Sci
U S A. 1987;84:92659269.
14. Kitakaze M, Node K, Komamura K, Minamino T, Inoue M, Hori M, Kamada T. Evidence for nitric oxide generation in the cardiomyocytes: its augmentation by hypoxia. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 1995;27:21492154.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
15. Chen LY, Mehta JL. Evidence for the presence of L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway in human red blood cells: relevance in the effects of red blood cells on platelet function. Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 1998;32:5761.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
16. Berkels R, Stockklauser K, Rosen P, Rosen R. Current status of platelet NO synthases. Thromb Res. 1997;87:5155.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
17. Amin AR, Attur M, Vyas P, Leszczynska-Piziak J, Levartovsky D, Rediske J, Clancy RM, Vora KA, Abramson SB. Expression of nitric oxide synthase in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and neutrophils. J Inflamm. 199596;47:190205.
18.
Farivar RS, Chobanian AV, Brecher P. Salicylate
or aspirin inhibits the induction of the inducible nitric oxide
synthase in rat cardiac fibroblasts. Circ Res. 1996;78:759768.
19. Yoshida K, Kohzuki M, Yasujima M, Kanazawa M, Abe K. Effects of benidipine, a calcium antagonist, on urinary kallikrein excretion and renal impairment in experimental diabetes. J Hypertens. 1996;14:215222.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
20.
Node K, Kitakaze M, Komamura K, Minamino T,
Kosaka H, Inoue M, Tada M, Hori M, Kamada T. Endogenous
nitric oxide reduces myocardial inotropic responses in ischemic
myocardium of the canine heart. Circulation. 1996;93:356364.
21.
Zanzinger J, Czachurski J, Seller H. Neuronal
nitric oxide reduces sympathetic excitability by modulation of central
glutamate effects in pigs. Circ Res. 1997;80:565571.
22. Qui Y, Tang XL, Manchikalapudi S, Takano H, Jadoon AK, Wu WJ, Bolli R. Nitric oxide triggers late preconditioning against myocardial infarction in conscious rabbits. Am J Physiol. 1997;273:H2931H2936.
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
T. Sugiura, T. Kondo, Y. Kureishi-Bando, Y. Numaguchi, O. Yoshida, Y. Dohi, G. Kimura, R. Ueda, T. J. Rabelink, and T. Murohara Nifedipine Improves Endothelial Function: Role of Endothelial Progenitor Cells Hypertension, September 1, 2008; 52(3): 491 - 498. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
H. Lenasi, K. Kohlstedt, B. Fichtlscherer, A. Mulsch, R. Busse, and I. Fleming Amlodipine activates the endothelial nitric oxide synthase by altering phosphorylation on Ser1177 and Thr495 Cardiovasc Res, October 1, 2003; 59(4): 844 - 853. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. A. Zvara Treatment of Perioperative Myocardial Ischemia Seminars in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia, July 1, 2001; 5(2): 166 - 183. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Gourine, A. Gonon, P.-O. Sjoquist, and J. Pernow Short-acting calcium antagonist clevidipine protects against reperfusion injury via local nitric oxide-related mechanisms in the jeopardised myocardium Cardiovasc Res, July 1, 2001; 51(1): 100 - 107. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. Berkels, G. Egink, T. A. Marsen, H. Bartels, R. Roesen, and W. Klaus Nifedipine Increases Endothelial Nitric Oxide Bioavailability by Antioxidative Mechanisms Hypertension, February 1, 2001; 37(2): 240 - 245. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Circulation Home | Subscriptions | Archives | Feedback | Authors | Help | AHA Journals Home | Search Copyright © 2000 American Heart Association, Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited. |