A putative role for S-nitrosoglutathione as the source of nitric oxide in photorelaxation of the mouse gastric fundus.

Abstract

Mouse gastric fundus strips were relaxed by ultraviolet light (UV) irradiation, exogenous nitric oxide (NO), isoproterenol, S-nitrosoglutathione, S-nitroso-L-cysteine and S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine. Glutathione did not affect relaxations in response to UV irradiation, exogenous NO and isoproterenol while inhibiting that with S-nitrosoglutathione. L-Cysteine inhibited responses to UV irradiation and exogenous NO, but not in the presence of exogenous Cu(2+)/Zn(2+) superoxide dismutase. However, L-cysteine alone or in combination with Cu(2+)/Zn(2+) superoxide dismutase did not affect the relaxations in response to S-nitroso-L-cysteine. Ethacrynic acid and diamide inhibited photorelaxations but not the relaxations with exogenous NO and isoproterenol. This inhibition was prevented by glutathione, but not by L-cysteine. S-nitrosoglutathione-induced relaxations were abolished by diamide and ethacrynic acid, whereas responses to S-nitroso-L-cysteine and S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine were only inhibited by ethacrynic acid. These results suggest that S-nitrosoglutathione may, at least in part, be the putative S-nitrosothiol, which is converted to NO in response to UV irradiation in mouse gastric fundus strips.