title: Potential effects of L-NAME on alcohol-induced oxidative stress.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nitric oxide (NO) is a highly reactive oxidant synthesized from L-arginine by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). NO may cause injury through the generation of potent radicals. Nw- nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) is a non-selective inhibitor of NOS. We aimed to evaluate whether L-NAME treatment had protective effects against oxidative stress in rats intragastrically fed with ethanol during a 4 wk-period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six male Wistar rats were divided into 3 equal groups: group 1 (control group-isocaloric dextrose was given), group 2 (6 g/kg.d ethanol-induced group) and group 3 (both ethanol 6 g/kg.d and L-NAME 500 mg/L in drinking water-given group). Animals were sacrificed at the end of 4 wk-experimental period, and intracardiac blood and liver tissues were obtained. Biochemical measurements were performed both in plasma and in homogenized liver tissues. Alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), malondialdehyde (MDA), NO, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) levels were measured by spectrophotometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ALT and AST in group 2 (62 U/L and 128 U/L, respectively) were higher than those in group 1 (24 U/L and 38 U/L) and group 3 (37 U/L and 81 U/L) (P<0.001 for both). Plasma and tissue levels of MDA in group 2 (4.66 micromol/L and 0.55 nmol/mg protein) were higher than in group 1 (2.65 micromol/L and 0.34 nmol/mg protein) and group 3 (3.43 micromol/L and 0.36 nmol/mg protein) (P<0.001 for both). Plasma and liver tissue levels of NO in group 2 (54.67 micromol/L and 586.50 nmol/mg protein) were higher than in group 1 (34.67 micromol/L and 435.33 nmol/mg protein) and group 3 (27.50 micromol/L and 412.75 nmol/mg protein) (P<0.001 for both). Plasma and liver tissue SOD activities in group 2 (15.25 U/mL and 5.38 U/ mg protein, respectively) were lower than in group 1 (20.00 U/mL and 8.13 U/ mg protein) and group 3 (19.00 U/mL and 6.93 U/ mg protein) (P<0.001 for both). Plasma and liver tissue CAT activities in group 2 (145 U/mL and 37 U/ mg protein, respectively) were lower than in group 1 (176 U/mL and 73 U/mg protein) and group 3 (167 U/mL and 61 U/mg protein) (P<0.001 for both). Meanwhile, erythrocytes and liver tissue levels of GSH in group 2 (4.12 mg/g Hb and 5.38 nmol/mg protein, respectively) were lower than in group 1 (5.52 mg/g Hb and 4.49 nmol/mg protein) and group 3 (5.64 mg/g Hb and 4.18 nmol/mg protein) (P<0.001 for both).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings show that L-NAME may produce a restorative effect on ethanol-induced liver damage via decreasing oxidative stress and increasing antioxidant status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Istanbul University, Cerrahpata School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey. huzun59@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Hafize
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uzun
authors.forename: Gonul
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simsek
authors.forename: Seval
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Ethem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Unal
authors.forename: Yesari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Karter
authors.forename: Nermin-Karaturan
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Yelmen
authors.forename: Suphi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vehid
authors.forename: Asl
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Curgunlu
authors.forename: Safiye
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester