The effects of i.v. administration of a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, L-NG-nitroarginine (L-NOArg), on the increase in cerebral cortical blood flow (cortical BF), following either electrical stimulation of the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM), whose cholinergic fibers project to the cortex, or hypercapnia with 10% CO2 inhalation, were studied in anesthetized rats. Cortical BF was measured using laser Doppler flowmetry. The threshold intensity of electrical stimulation of the NBM (0.5 ms, 50 Hz for 10 s) that induced an increase in regional cortical BF was defined as 1T. The cortical BF was increased on a stimulus intensity dependent manner at 1T-5T intensities tested. L-NOArg was administered cumulatively i.v. starting from 0.3 mg/kg, then 3 mg/kg, and 30 mg/kg. Time interval between each cumulative administration of L-NOArg was approximately 40 min. Three and 30 mg/kg of L-NOArg significant reduced the NBM stimulation-induced increase of cortical BF at intensities of 2T and 3T. The response at an intensity of 5T was reduced only by 30 mg/kg of L-NOArg to about half the control response. The reduced responses at 2T, 3T, and 5T were reversed following the i.v. administration of a physiological precursor of NO, L-arg (300 mg/kg). Inhalation of 10% CO2 for 15 s induced an increase in cortical BF which was not influenced by L-NOArg and L-Arg. These results suggest that NO is a necessary factor in the vasodilation of the cortical BF that is brought about by cholinergic fibers originating in the NBM.