Fig. 1.

NOS3 induces a hyperdynamic state and impairs survival in sepsis. a Prolonged survival in NOS3^−/− mice. Survival time of septic NOS3^−/− mice was profoundly increased as compared to septic WT mice. Unselective NOS inhibition with ETU diminished survival benefit in septic NOS3^−/− mice and led to a slight improvement in septic WT mice. No deaths occurred in sham-operated mice (n = 12 per group). b Initial hyperdynamic state in septic WT mice. After recovery from anesthesia, cardiac output (CO) increased substantially in WT CLP mice followed by a rapid decline in CO. In contrast, NOS3^−/− CLP and all sham-operated animals showed stable CO. CO was also stabilized after unselective NOS inhibition in WT and NOS3^−/− mice (n = 12 per group)