title: l-Arginine normalizes NOS activity and zinc-MT homeostasis in the kidney of mice chronically exposed to inorganic mercury.
abstract: Inorganic mercury (HgCl2) exposure provokes damage in many organs, especially kidney. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, total NOS activity and the profiles of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and Hg as well as their distribution when bound to specific intracellular proteins, including metallothioneins (MT), were studied during HgCl2 exposure and after l-arginine treatment in C57BL/6 mouse kidney. HgCl2 exposure modulates differently iNOS expression and NOS activity, increasing iNOS expression but, conversely, decreasing total NOS activity in the mouse kidney. Moreover, during Hg exposure an increased MT production occurs. The kidney damage leads to a loss of urinary proteins, increased plasma creatinine and high Zn mobilization with consequent increased urinary Zn excretion. l-arginine treatment recovers NOS activity and induces a normalization of MT induction, plasma creatinine values and urinary proteins excretion, suggesting that l-arginine may limit kidney damages by Hg exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pathology and Innovative Therapies, Occupational Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, Torrette, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Piacenza
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malavolta
authors.forename: Catia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cipriano
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Costarelli
authors.forename: Robertina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giacconi
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Muti
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tesei
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pierpaoli
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basso
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bracci
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bonacucina
authors.forename: Lory
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santarelli
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mocchegiani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000633:toxicity; D008628:Mercury / Q000378:metabolism; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000139:chemically induced; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; C021267:zinc thionein; D008627:Mercuric Chloride; D003300:Copper; D008668:Metallothionein; D001120:Arginine; D003404:Creatinine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D008628:Mercury