Zhang, YiSchyvens, ChrisMcKenzie, KatjaMorris, BrianWhitworth, Judith2015-12-132015-12-130916-9636http://hdl.handle.net/1885/87803Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to stimulate nitric oxide (NO) release and investigate the effect of endogenous NO on adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)-induced hypertension in rats. After preliminary studies to determine the appropriate dose of LPS, 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with ACTH (200 μg/kg/day, s.c.) or saline (sham) for 8 days and then given a single dose of LPS (10 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline. ACTH treatment was continued for a further 5 days. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured daily using the tail cuff method. Results were expressed as the mean±SEM. ACTH treatment significantly increased SBP (from 105±3 to 129±4 mmHg; p<0.05), whereas saline had no effect on SBP. The ACTH-induced increase in SBP was reversed by LPS injection (from 125±6 to 102±7 mmHg; p<0.05). SBP was also decreased in sham + LPS-treated rats compared with that of sham + saline-treated rats (p<0.05), but the SBP change in response to LPS was greater in ACTH-treated than in sham-treated rats (-23 vs. -8 mmHg; p<0.05). These data are compatible with the notion that reduced NO availability plays a role in ACTH-induced hypertension.Keywords: corticotropin; lipopolysaccharide; nitric oxide; spironolactone; animal; animal experiment; animal model; antihypertensive activity; article; blood pressure; blood pressure measurement; body weight; controlled study; drug effect; hypertension; iatrogenic Adrenocorticotrophic hormone; Hypertension; Lipopolysaccharide; Nitric oxide200310.1291/hypres.26.4272015-12-12