L-arginine Reduces Blood Pressure and Improves Vascular Endothelial Function in Nitric Oxide-Deficient Hypertensive Rats

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Sarawoot Bunbupha
Putcharawipa Maneesai
Thewarid Berkban
Parichat Prachaney
Upa Kukongviriyapan
Poungrat Pakdeechote

Abstract

Background and Objectives: L-arginine is the substrate for vascular nitric oxide (NO) formation. It has antihypertensive, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. This study was to investigate the effect of L-arginine on blood pressure and vascular endothelial function in Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME)-induced hypertensive rats.


Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered with L-NAME (40 mg/kg/day) in drinking water for 5 weeks in order to induce hypertension. Hypertensive rats were treated with L-arginine (100 mg/kg/day) or vehicle for the last 2 weeks. Systolic blood pressure was measured weekly. Vascular endothelial function test, plasma NO metabolite (NOx), and vascular superoxide (O2) production were evaluated.


Results: Rats treated with L-NAME had high blood pressure and endothelial dysfunction associated with decreased plasma NOx level and increased vascular O2 production comparing to control (p<0.05). L-arginine significantly reduced blood pressure, and improved vascular endothelial function in L-NAME-treated rats (p<0.05). Moreover, L-arginine enhanced nitric oxide bioavailability by restoring plasma NOx level and reducing O2 production in hypertensive rats (p<0.05).


Conclusion: Our results indicated that L-arginine decreased blood pressure and alleviated vascular endothelial dysfunction in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats. This was associated with increasing in NO bioavailability.

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How to Cite
1.
Bunbupha S, Maneesai P, Berkban T, Prachaney P, Kukongviriyapan U, Pakdeechote P. L-arginine Reduces Blood Pressure and Improves Vascular Endothelial Function in Nitric Oxide-Deficient Hypertensive Rats. SRIMEDJ [Internet]. 2019 Feb. 20 [cited 2024 Mar. 19];34(1):11-7. Available from: https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/SRIMEDJ/article/view/173262
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