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Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and transforming growth factor-β₁ (TGF-β₁) mRNA increase in rat skeletal muscle in response to a single acute exercise bout. Nitric oxide (NO) is released locally by muscle vascular endothelium and muscle fibers during exercise, contributes to the blood flow response to exercise, and regulates mitochondrial respiration. We hypothesized that a reduction in NO production, via NO synthase inhibition, would demonstrate a link between NO and the VEGF, bFGF, and TGF-β₁ gene responses to exercise. To investigate this hypothesis, 9-wk-old female Wistar rats were divided into eight treatment groups (n = 6 each): 1) saline + rest,2) saline + exercise, 3) 30 mg/kgN ^ω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME, a known NOS inhibitor) + rest, 4) 30 mg/kgl-NAME + exercise, 5) 300 mg/kg l-NAME + rest, 6) 300 mg/kg l-NAME + exercise, 7) 300 mg …