title: The vascular effects of L-Arginine in humans. The role of endogenous insulin.
abstract: This study aimed at evaluating whether increased availability of the natural precursor of nitric oxide, L-arginine, could influence systemic hemodynamic and rheologic parameters in humans and whether the effects of L-arginine are mediated by endogenous insulin. 10 healthy young subjects participated in the following studies: study I, infusion of L-arginine (1 g/min for 30 min); study II, infusion of L-arginine plus octreotide (25 microg as i.v. bolus + 0.5 microg/min) to block endogenous insulin and glucagon secretion, plus replacement of basal insulin and glucagon; study III, infusion of L-arginine plus octreotide plus basal glucagon plus an insulin infusion designed to mimic the insulin response of study I. L-Arginine infusion significantly reduced systolic (11+/-3, mean+/-SE) and diastolic (8+/-2 mmHg, P < 0.001) blood pressure, platelet aggregation (20+/-4%), and blood viscosity (1.6+/-0.2 centipois, P < 0.01), and increased leg blood flow (97+/-16 ml/min), heart rate, and plasma catecholamine levels (P < 0.01). In study II, plasma insulin levels remained suppressed at baseline; in this condition, the vascular responses to L-arginine were significantly reduced, except for plasma catecholamines which did not change significantly. In study III, the plasma insulin response to L-arginine was reestablished; this was associated with hemodynamic and rheologic changes following L-arginine not significantly different from those recorded in study I. These findings show that systemic infusion of L-arginine in healthy subjects induces vasodilation and inhibits platelet aggregation and blood viscosity. These effects are mediated, in part, by endogenous released insulin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics and Metabolic Diseases, Second University of Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giugliano
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marfella
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Verrazzo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Acampora
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cozzolino
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: D'Onofrio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000187:drug effects; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D005934:Glucagon / Q000378:metabolism; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006728:Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D015282:Octreotide / Q000494:pharmacology; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D012212:Rheology / Q000187:drug effects; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D006728:Hormones; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D005934:Glucagon; D001120:Arginine; D015282:Octreotide