European journal of pharmacology
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When NG-nitro-L-arginine, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, administration was started 5 min prior to shock induction in anesthetized dogs, a partial restoration was observed in endotoxin-induced shock and a complete recovery in platelet activating factor (PAF)-induced shock. When NG-nitro-L-arginine infusion was started 5 min after shock induction, no significant recovery was observed in endotoxin-induced shock and a complete recovery in PAF-induced shock. These data indicate that enhanced production of nitric oxide by vascular endothelial cells may contribute to endotoxin- or PAF-induced shock and also that some mediators including inducible nitric oxide synthase and/or cellular damage might be involved in endotoxin-induced shock.