Nebulized nitric oxide/nucleophile adduct reduces pulmonary vascular resistance in mechanically ventilated septicemic sheep.

Objective: To study the effects of a novel, intermittently administered, aerosolized nitric oxide donor, methyl-N-2-dimethylaminoethyl-3-aminoproprionid/nitric oxide (DMDE-NO), on pulmonary hemodynamic responses to sepsis.

Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled study in awake sheep.

Setting: Investigational intensive care unit of a university medical center.

Inhibition of neuronal nitric oxide synthase by 7-nitroindazole attenuates acute lung injury in an ovine model.

Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to play a major role in acute lung injury (ALI) after smoke inhalation. In the present study, we developed an ovine sepsis model, created by exposing sheep to smoke inhalation followed by instillation of bacteria into the airway, that mimics human sepsis and pneumonia. We hypothesized that the inhibition of neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) might be beneficial in treating ALI associated with this model.