Arginine as an exacerbating factor for glomerulonephritis in rats fed a methionine-threonine-supplemented low casein diet.
We previously demonstrated that a methionine-threonine-supplemented low (8.5%) casein diet (8.5CMT) reduced symptoms such as proteinuria in nephritic rats without severe protein malnutrition. In this study, we examined whether or not L-arginine supplementation to 8.5CMT would exacerbate proteinuria and other symptoms in nephritic rats. Male Wistar rats with glomerulonephritis induced by a single intravenous injection of nephrotoxic serum were fed either a 20% casein diet (control), 8.5% casein diet, 8.5CMT, or L-arginine-supplemented 8.5CMT (8.5CMTA) for 16 days. The 8.5CMTA, as compared with the 8.5CMT, aggravated proteinuria and glomerulonephritis. Administration of L-N(G)-nitroarginine methyl ester, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, to 8.5CMTA-fed nephritic rats by drinking water for 14 days canceled the adverse effect of L-arginine on proteinuria and histopathological damage in glomeruli. These results suggest that the supplementation of L-arginine makes exacerbation via nitric oxide production in glomerulonephritis.
Nihei
T
T
Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo Noko University, Fuchu, Japan.
Arai
K
K
Miura
Y
Y
Yagasaki
K
K
D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002364:Caseins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013912:Threonine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D002364:Caseins; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D013912:Threonine; D001120:Arginine; D008715:Methionine; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester