title: L-arginine and L-NAME have no effects on the reendothelialization process after arterial balloon injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Growth regulatory properties of nitric oxide (NO) in cultured endothelial cells is controversial. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of L-arginine, the endogenous NO precursor, and L-NAME, an inhibitor of NO synthase on the reendothelialization process after angioplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-five New Zealand White rabbits underwent denudation of the left iliac artery. After injury the rabbits were randomized in three groups: L-arginine 2.25% (L-arginine, n = 19); NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester 15 mg/kg/day (L-NAME, n = 19); and placebo (controls, n = 17). Treatment was solubilized in drinking water. Reendothelialization was evaluated at 4 weeks by macroscopic evaluation of Evans blue staining and endothelial-specific immunostaining (CD-31) on cross sections. Intimal hyperplasia was evaluated by morphometric analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite a significant increase in plasma arginine (P = 0.001) and a reduction in intimal hyperplasia (P = 0.003) with L-arginine, neither agent had a significant effect on reendothelialization at 4 weeks (controls = 36 +/- 4%, L-arginine = 43 +/- 3%, L-NAME = 33 +/- 4%; NS).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that, in spite of previously demonstrated effects on neointimal hyperplasia, the NO pathway does not influence the regrowth of macrovascular endothelial cells in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Lille, France.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Six
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Belle
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bordet
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Corseaux
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Callebert
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dupuis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bauters
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Bertrand
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester