title: L-glutamine inhibits the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor from the rabbit aorta.
abstract: The present study investigates the effect of the amino acid L-glutamine (L-Gln) on the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) from the luminally perfused rabbit aorta and on endothelium-dependent relaxations of rabbit aortic strips. L-Gln (200 microM) had no effect on the acetylcholine (Ach)-induced release of EDRF from freshly prepared aortic tissues. The concentration of L-arginine (L-Arg) in endothelial cells isolated from these aortae was approximately 4 mM, as determined by HPLC analysis. After an initial equilibration period of 2 h and two consecutive infusions of Ach (55 microM for 15 min) at 2 and 3 h, L-Arg levels fell by 62 +/- 14% (n = 4). Under these conditions, L-Gln (200 microM) but not D-Gln (200 microM) inhibited the release of EDRF by 50 +/- 4% (n = 7). This effect of L-Gln was partially reversed by infusions of L-Arg (500 microM) but not D-Arg (500 microM). L-Gln (200 microM) but not D-Gln (200 microM) potentiated the inhibitory effect of N omega-nitro-L-arginine (30 microM), an inhibitor of EDRF biosynthesis, on Ach-induced relaxations of rabbit aortic strips, whereas L-Gln alone had no effect. Thus, L-Gln inhibits the release of EDRF from intact blood vessels presumably by interfering with the generation of L-Arg by the endothelium.
authors.affiliation: William Harvey Research Institute, St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Swierkosz
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Sessa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hecker
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Vane
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005973:Glutamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007536:Isomerism; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D005973:Glutamine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000109:Acetylcholine