Nitric oxide production in pregnancy and experimental acute kidney insufficiency

: Nitric oxide production in organs of pregnant mice (liver, kidney, placenta) was measured using specifical NO traps, Fe-dithiocarbamate complexes (Fe-DETC) forming with NO paramagnetic mononitrosyl iron complexes with DETC (MNIC-DETC), detected by EPR method (-196 degrees C). The amount of NO formed increased in dependence of the pregnancy period (from the first to the third trimesters). Addition of NO-synthase substrate, L-arginine, insignificantly influenced endogenous NO production. However, endogenous NO amount sharply decreased at experimental acute renal failure.