title: Diverse effects of parenteral arginine on systemic and local oxidant-antioxidant homeostasis and nitrosative stress in rats with subacute peritonitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The beneficial effects of arginine on oxidative stress have been previously reported; however, excess production of nitric oxide, an arginine metabolite, may cause hemodynamic instability and inflammatory response. Previous studies have demonstrated that parenteral arginine levels at 2%-4% of total calories may alleviate inflammation and enhance immunity, whereas greater than 6% of total calories may have adverse effects in rats with subacute peritonitis. Herein, we investigated the effects of parenteral arginine dose on lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS) and antioxidant enzyme activities in the plasma and organs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar rats with cecal puncture-induced subacute peritonitis were infused with parenteral nutrition solutions containing 1.61% (CP group), 2.85% (LA group), 4.08% (MA group), and 6.54% (HA group) of total calories as arginine for 7 d. Healthy, orally fed rats (NC group) were used as references.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subacute peritonitis significantly elevated the levels of nitrate, nitrite and TBARS in the plasma and decreased glutathione peroxidase activity in the kidneys. These changes were significantly reversed in the MA and HA groups. The MA and HA groups had significantly increased nitrotyrosine levels in the plasma. The LA, MA, and HA groups had significantly increased glutathione peroxidase activity in the plasma, cytochrome P450 levels in the liver, and nitrotyrosine levels in the heart and had significantly decreased TBARS levels in the kidneys compared with the CP group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that parenteral arginine at a dose less than 4% of total calories may attenuate lipid peroxidation and increase antioxidant enzyme activities without leading to nitrosative stress in subacute peritonitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education and Research, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan, Republic of China; Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ya-Hui
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan, Republic of China; Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chien-Hsing
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Team of Clinical Nutrition Support Service, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chien-Chou
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Li-Sung
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Science, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan, Republic of China. Electronic address: paulafju@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hui-Chen
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D002149:Energy Intake; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D016877:Oxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016877:Oxidants; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C002744:3-nitrotyrosine; D014443:Tyrosine; D001120:Arginine
keywords: Antioxidant enzymes; Arginine; Lipid peroxidation; Nitric oxide; Nitrotyrosine; Parenteral nutrition; Peritonitis; Subacute peritonitis