Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) is a vasodilator and platelet aggregation inhibitor. In patients with pulmonary hypertension, inhalation of NO is used as a therapeutic option. It has been proposed that nitrite (NO(2) (-)) is a constitute intravascular storage and delivery source of NO, a potent cardioprotective-signaling molecule. The administration of NO(2) (-) could have therapeutic effects in conditions where the oxygen-dependent enzymatic production of NO is compromised (i.e., ischemia). Thus, if NO could be supplied by an intravenous infusion fluid, it would be an easier method than by inhalation or delivery to the blood vessels by the blood stream. We produced 2 types of solutions, i.e., a nitrogen gas injected solution (control solution) and NO gas injected solution (experimental solution). NO was measured by the Microplate Photometer (MultiSkan FC, Thermo Fisher Scientific K.K., Tokyo, Japan) with a 540-nm wavelength and NO assay kit (Quantichrom™ Nitric Oxide Assay Kit, BioAssay Systems, Hayward, CA, USA). Gas profiles were measured by the EG6+ (Abbott Japan Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan) with an i-STAT system (300F, Abbott Japan Co., Ltd.). Comparisons of gas profiles and measured NO concentrations in vitro and ex vivo are shown between the control and experimental solutions. Since NO is oxidized to NO(2) (-) and nitrate (NO(3) (-)), it is common practice to quantitate total NO(2) (-)/NO(3) (-) as a measure of the NO level. We used the assay that was designed to accurately measure NO production following reduction of NO(3) (-) to NO(2) (-) using the Griess method. The data in this document describe production of an infusion fluid that contains NO without any special devices.