Dietary supplementation with L-arginine ameliorates the progression of renal disease in rats with subtotal nephrectomy.
We studied the effect of dietary supplementation with L-arginine for 6 weeks on the progression of renal disease in female Sprague-Dawley rats subjected to sham-operation (groups 1 and 2) or surgical ablation of 85% to 90% of the total renal mass (groups 3 and 4). All rats were fed a standard rat chow containing 22.8% protein. Rats in groups 1 (n = 5) and 3 (n = 9) served as controls and drank tap water ad libitum. Rats in groups 2 (n = 6) and 4 (n = 6) drank tap water supplemented with 1% L-arginine. Rats in groups 1 and 2 had similar values for glomerular and tubular function and serum chemistries 6 weeks after sham-operation. Sham-operated rats given L-arginine had significantly greater urine urea excretion than similar rats drinking tap water. Rats with subtotal nephrectomy (groups 3 and 4) had a significantly higher blood pressure, greater proteinuria, and a significantly lower plasma albumin than sham-operated rats (groups 1 and 2). Rats with remnant kidneys given 1% L-arginine (group 4) had significantly greater values for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and P-amino hippurate (PAH) clearance than similar rats given tap water (group 3), despite comparable levels of systemic blood pressure, hematocrit, body weight, plasma chemistries, including L-arginine, and urine chemistries, except urea excretion. The remnant kidney of rats given L-arginine (group 4) had a greater number of normal or minimally abnormal glomeruli and fewer interstitial changes than that of rats given tap water (group 3).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Reyes
A A
AA
Renal Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO.
Purkerson
M L
ML
Karl
I
I
Klahr
S
S
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009392:Nephrectomy; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D016482:Urinalysis; D014881:Water Supply
D001120:Arginine