Dietary L-arginine attenuates expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in the aortae of hypercholesterolemic rats.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the antiatherogenic effect of L-arginine is due to an inhibition of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression in the aortae of hypercholesterolemic rats.


METHODS
Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomized into three groups: Group NC with normal diet (NC, n = 8), Group CC with 4% cholesterol and 1% cholic acid diet (CC, n = 8), Group AC with 4% cholesterol and 1% cholic acid diet supplemented with 3% L-arginine HCl in the drinking water (AC, n = 8). Eight weeks later, the blood samples were collected for biochemical studies, and the aortae were harvested for RT-PCR and immunohistochemical studies.


RESULTS
The results showed that dietary L-arginine supplementation reduced expression of VCAM-1 in protein level and mRNA level.


CONCLUSIONS
Inhibitory effect of dietary supplementation of L-arginine on VCAM-1 expression may be one of the mechanisms of its antiatherosclerosis.
Huo
Y
Y
Department of Cardiology, People's Hospital, Beijing Medical University, Beijing 100044, China.
Xu
C
C
Zhang
T
T
Zhang
J
J
Cui
J
J
Yin
C
C
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000378:metabolism*; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D001120:Arginine