Effect of cholinergic and adrenergic receptor blockade on arrhythmogenic activity of endothelin-1 during inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis in awake mice

Abstract

We studied the effects of blockade of nicotinic receptors in sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia (hexamethonium), muscarinic receptors (atropine), and beta1-adrenoceptors (atenolol) on arrhythmogenic activity of endothelin-1 during inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis with Nomega-nitro-L-arginine in NMRI mice. Atropine reduced, while hexamethonium completely abolished the arrhythmogenic effect of endothelin-1 during nitric oxide synthase inhibition. Atenolol potentiated arrhythmogenic activity of Nomega-nitro-L-arginine, but endothelin-1 had no effect on the incidence of arrhythmias under these conditions.