title: L-arginine does not restore endothelial dysfunction in atherosclerotic rabbit aorta in vitro.
abstract: Bioassay studies suggest that impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation in atherosclerotic arteries is due to a reduced release of biologically active endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF). We tested the hypothesis that endothelial dysfunction is caused by deficiency of the EDRF precursor L-arginine. Aortae from normal and cholesterol-fed (1%, 4 months) rabbits were excised and incubated for 1 h with 5 mM L-arginine. Pretreatment with L-arginine had no effect on the relaxation to acetylcholine in normal vessels and was without effect on the impaired response of atherosclerotic arteries to acetylcholine. This finding suggests that L-arginine deficiency is unlikely the underlying cause of impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation in the aorta of cholesterol-fed rabbits.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Center, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mügge
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000503:physiopathology; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D000109:Acetylcholine