Is nitric oxide luteolytic or antiluteolytic?

Nitric oxide (NO) has been reported to be luteolytic based on treatment of cows in vivo with an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS-produces NO), which delayed the decline in progesterone by two to three days [Jaroszewki J, Hansel, W. Intraluteal administration of a nitric oxide synthase blocker stimulates progesterone, oxytocin secretion and prolongs the life span of the bovine corpus luteum. Proc Soc Exptl Biol Med 2000;224:50-5; Skarzynski D, Jaroszewki J, Bah, M, et al. Administration of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor counteracts prostaglandin F2α-induced luteolysis in cattle. Biol Reprod 2003;68:1674-81]. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of a long acting NO donor or a NOS inhibitor infused chronically into the interstitial tissue of the ovarian vascular pedicle adjacent to the ovary with a corpus luteum on secretion of progesterone during the ovine estrous cycle. Ewes were treated either with Vehicle (N = 5); Diethylenetriamine (DETA-control for DETA-NONOate; N = 5); (Z)-1-[2-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(2-ammonioethyl) amino]diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (DETA-NONOate-long acting NO donor; N = 6); or l-nitro-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME-NOS inhibitor; N = 6) every 6 h from 24:00 h (0 h) on day 8 through 18:00 h on day 18 of the estrous cycle. Jugular venous blood was collected every 6 h for analysis for progesterone and corpora lutea were collected at 18:00 h on day 18 and weighed. Weights of corpora lutea were heavier (P ≤ 0.05) in DETA-NONOate-treated ewes when compared to Vehicle, DETA, or l-NAME-treated ewes, which did not differ amongst each other (P ≥ 0.05). Profiles of progesterone in jugular venous blood on days 8-18 differed (P ≤ 0.05) in DETA-NONOate-treated ewes when compared to Vehicle, DETA, or l-NAME-treated ewes did not differ (P ≥ 0.05) amongst each other. It is concluded that NO is not luteolytic during the ovine estrous cycle, but may instead be antiluteolytic and prevent luteolysis.