Differential effects of nitrovasodilators and nitric oxide on porcine tracheal and bronchial muscle in vitro

Nitrovasodilators and nitric oxide relax airway smooth muscle. The mechanism by which nitrovasodilators are thought to act is by release of nitric oxide, but the importance of nitric oxide in nitrovasodilator-induced airway smooth muscle relaxation is unclear. The aim of this study was to compare the relaxing effects of nitric oxide itself with those of nitrovasodilators in porcine tracheal muscle and intrapulmonary airways and to investigate the mechanisms involved. Strips of porcine tracheal smooth muscle, rings of bronchi, and strips of bronchi from the same animal were suspended in organ chambers in modified Krebs Ringer solution (95% O₂-5% CO₂, 37°C). Tissues were contracted with carbachol, and concentration- response curves to nitric oxide, sodium nitroprusside, and SIN-1 (an active metabolite of molsidomine) were obtained. All tissues relaxed to sodium nitroprusside, SIN-1, and nitric oxide. The relaxation to nitric oxide but not to SIN-1 or sodium nitroprusside was inhibited by methylene blue. Tissues pretreated with methylene blue that failed to relax to nitric oxide were, however, relaxed by sodium nitroprusside. These results demonstrate that nitrovasodilators relax airways by a mechanism other than by or in addition to the release of nitric oxide.