The role of nitric oxide in the development of reactive hyperemia in the coronary bed

: De-endothelialization of the coronary vessels induced a 3-4-fold decrease in the level of hyperemia in anesthetised dogs. Infusion of L-arginine augmented the reactive hyperemia and the endothelium-dependent relaxation in response to acetylcholine administration. The reactive hyperemia seems to be wholly depending on the endothelium, being conditioned by the effect of endothelium-derived nitric oxide.