Augmented nitric oxide production and up-regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase during cecal ligation and perforation

► NOS inhibitors reduced acetylcholine-induced relaxation in CLP and Sham aortas. ► In the presence of NOS inhibitors, the relaxation was higher in CLP than in Sham. ► The acetylcholine-induced NO production was higher in CLP. ► Protein expression of eNOS was higher in CLP and we did not detect iNOS. ► The augmented acetylcholine-induced relaxation is due to NO produced by eNOS.