Many studies have shown that nitric oxide (NO) production is higher in the systemic vasculature of females than males and is stimulated during pregnancy, a high estrogen state. The present study was performed in rats to determine whether females had a greater expression of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) in kidneys than did males; whether there were gender differences in the excretion of NO metabolites, nitrate/nitrite; and whether there were gender differences in the renal hemodynamic response to NO synthase inhibition.
