title: The effect of L-arginine or L-citrulline supplementation on biochemical parameters and the vascular aortic wall in high-fat and high-cholesterol-fed rats.
abstract: The aim of the present study is to investigate the potential role of L-arginine or L-citrulline in rats fed high-fat and high-cholesterol (HFC) diet. HFC feeding increased significantly serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities, urea and all lipid profiles and decreased significantly serum high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) and non significantly serum nitric oxide levels. L-arginine or L-citrulline administration reversed the increase in serum AST and ALT activities, urea and all lipid profiles. These effects were associated with a concomitant increase in HDL-c and nitric oxide levels. In general, rats fed HFC diet and orally treated with L-arginine or L-citrulline had higher relative percentage of 18:0, 20:0 and 22:6 and lower 16:0 fatty acids than rats fed HFC diet. Light and transmission electron microscopic findings of the thoracic aorta confirmed the biochemical results and demonstrated structural changes in the endothelial cells of the intimal layer, medial smooth muscle cells as well as in the adventitial layer in HFC fed-animals. However, these findings indicate little structural alterations in animals supplemented with L-arginine or L-citrulline along with HFC feeding. In the present study, L-arginine or L-citrulline was effective hypocholesterolemic and hypolipidemic agents in rats.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry and Nutrition Department, Women's College, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. aml_ashmawy@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Amal Ashmawy Ahmed
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: El-Kirsh
authors.forename: Hanan Mohamed Fathy
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Abd El-Wahab
authors.forename: Hala Fahmy
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Abd-Ellah Sayed
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol; D002956:Citrulline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D004041:Dietary Fats; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D002956:Citrulline; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D014508:Urea; D001120:Arginine; D002784:Cholesterol; D003404:Creatinine; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase