title: The effect of L-arginine methyl ester on indices of free radical involvement in a rat model of experimental nephrocalcinosis.
abstract: The aim of this study was to test the effect of L: -arginine methyl ester (L-Arg) on indices of free radical involvement in a rat model of experimental nephrocalcinosis. Twenty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into four groups of seven. The first group (G1), the sham-control group received pure distilled drinking water. The second group (G2) received drinking water containing 0.7% ethylene glycol (EG) in distilled water for 3 weeks. The third group (G3) received drinking water containing 0.7% EG in distilled water for 3 weeks and L-Arg was administered for 3 weeks. The fourth group (G4) received drinking water containing 0.7% EG in distilled water for 3 weeks and L-NAME was administered for 3 weeks. Urine and aortic blood was collected to determine some parameters. The kidneys were also removed for histological examination. The increase in blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, K(+), Mg(2+ )and uric acid were mild in group 3 compared with the groups 2 and 4. The urinary concentrations of Na(+), K(+), Mg(2+) and uric acid were noticed to be similar among the groups. However, Ca(2+ )and oxalate excretion were significantly higher in groups 2, 3 and 4 than in group 1. The mean values of SOD, CAT and GSH-Px values were significantly increased in group 3 when compared to groups 2 and 4. Presence of aggregated urinary crystals was clearer in experimental groups compared to group 1. The tubular dilatation, epithelial degeneration and lymphocytic infiltration were significantly found in groups 2 and 4. Mild tissue damage was observed in L-Arg-pretreated rats. Under polarized light microscope intense crystals in the cortex and medulla were observed in the kidney of group 2 and 4 and moderate crystals were noticed in group 3. In conclusion, L-Arg supplementation may decrease free radicals and tubulary membrane injury in nephrocalcinosis due to infiltrating leukocytes and decreased antioxidant enzyme activities in rats fed with EG diet.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Dicle University, Medical School, 21280 Diyarbakir, Turkey. ozturkhayrettin@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Hayrettin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.forename: Hulya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yagmur
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Buyukbayram
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002129:Calcium Oxalate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000652:urine; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003460:Crystallization; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009397:Nephrocalcinosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012964:Sodium / Q000652:urine; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005609:Free Radicals; C026512:arginine methyl ester; D002129:Calcium Oxalate; D014527:Uric Acid; D001120:Arginine; D012964:Sodium; D003404:Creatinine; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione; D008274:Magnesium; D011188:Potassium; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester