Effects of L-arginine and L-NAME on chronic partial bladder outlet obstruction in rabbit.
Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized from L-arginine by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). NOS can be inhibited by NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and stimulated by supplementing the diet with L-arginine. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of NOS activity on the response of rabbits to chronic partial bladder outlet obstruction (PBOO). Surgical PBOOs (2 and 8 wk) were performed on male New Zealand White rabbits. Before obstruction, one-third of the animals were premedicated for 7 days with L-NAME and another third with L-arginine. The results are summarized as follows. First, bladder weight after 8-wk PBOO was significantly lower in animals treated with L-arginine compared with both untreated and rabbits treated with L-NAME. Second, contractile function decreased progressively with PBOO duration. However, after 8 wk of PBOO, the L-arginine group had significantly greater contractile function compared with the no-treatment group, and the L-NAME group had significantly lower contractile function compared with the no-treatment group. Third, at 8 wk following PBOO, the level of protein oxidation and nitration was lowest for the L-arginine group and highest in the L-NAME group. These studies clearly demonstrated that increasing blood flow by stimulating NOS significantly protected the bladder from PBOO dysfunctions, whereas inhibiting blood flow by L-NAME enhanced the dysfunctions mediated by PBOO.
Lin
Wei-Yu
WY
Division of Urology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chia-Yi, Taiwan.
Levin
Robert M
RM
Chichester
Paul
P
Leggett
Robert
R
Juan
Yung-Shun
YS
Johnson
Arnold
A
Neumann
Paul
P
Whitbeck
Catherine
C
Guven
Ahmet
A
Kogan
Barry
B
Mannikarottu
Anita
A
D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001748:Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*
D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester