Aim: Liver is the main metabolic organ in the living organism and may be affected from arterial hypertension. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition was shown to produce hypertension in rats. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate adenosine deaminase (ADA) and xanthine oxidase (XO) activities of liver tissue in rats after chronic NOS inhibition by N sup omega Nitro-L-Arginine Methyl Ester (L-NAME).

Material and method: Rats were divided into three groups; the first one was the control group and the others were study groups treated with 100 or 500 mg/L L-NAME in drinking water for 15 days. After above-mentioned treatment, arterial blood pressure was measured via carotid artery cannula on anaesthetised rats. Activities of ADA and XO were carried out in the liver tissue.

Results: ADA and XO activities of hypertensive groups were increased significantly compared with control group. There was no significant difference in ADA and XO activities between 100 mg and 500 mg L-NAME groups.

Conclusion: Hypertension induced by chronic NOS inhibition may affect purin catabolism and result in high XO and ADA activities.