Dietary arginine fails to protect against cerebrovascular damage in stroke-prone hypertensive rats.
Stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) develop severe hypertension and cerebrovascular lesions. We investigated the influence of dietary supplementation with L-arginine, an amino acid precursor of endothelium-derived nitric oxide, on blood pressure and stroke in these rats. L-Arginine, administered in the saline drinking solution at 2 or 6 g/l starting at 8.7 weeks of age, was without effect on blood pressure, cerebrovascular lesions, or longevity despite continuous treatment through 14 weeks of age. These findings do not support a beneficial influence of dietary arginine in the cerebrovascular pathology of SHRSP.
Stier
C T
CT
Department of Pharmacology, New York Medical College, Valhalla 10595.
Sim
G J
GJ
Levine
S
S
D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004032:Diet; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine