[Effects of L-arginine on acute hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and production of endothelin-1 in vivo and in cultured endothelial cells]

Zhongguo Yi Xue Ke Xue Yuan Xue Bao. 1996 Jun;18(3):214-8.
[Article in Chinese]

Abstract

This study is aimed to investigate the effects of L-arginine, a precursor of the formation of nitric oxide, on acute hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in vivo and on production of endothelin-1 both in vivo and in cultured endothelial cells. In mechanically ventilated anesthetized dogs (n = 7), L-arginine (0.5 g/kg) reduced the mean pulmonary arterial pressure and femoral arterial pressure during hypoxic ventilation and its action lasted for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, plasma endothelin-1 in the pulmonary and femoral artery had no remarkable change. In cultured endothelial cells from umbilical veins, different concentrations of L-arginine had no influence on endothelin-1 level of culture medium in 4 or 24 hours after the addition of L-arginine. These results indicate that L arginine can decrease the pulmonary arterial pressure during acute hypoxia, which may be associated with the increase of nitric oxide production.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arginine / pharmacology*
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dogs
  • Endothelin-1 / biosynthesis*
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / blood
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / physiopathology*
  • Hypoxia / complications*
  • Male

Substances

  • Endothelin-1
  • Arginine