The prevention of endothelial dysfunction through endothelial cell apoptosis inhibition in a hypercholesterolemic rabbit model: the effect of L-arginine supplementation

The impact of L-arginine on atherogenesis and its ability to prevent endothelial dysfunction have been studied extensively during the past years. L-arginine is a substance for nitric oxide synthesis which involves in apoptosis.

Hypercholesterolemia promotes endothelial dysfunction, and it is hypothesized that L-arginine prevents endothelial dysfunction through endothelial cells apoptosis inhibition. To test this hypothesis, thirty rabbits were assigned into two groups.

The control group received 1% cholesterol diet for 4 weeks, and the L-arginine group received same diets plus 3% L-arginine in drinking water.

Results: No significant differences were observed in cholesterol level between two groups, but the nitrite concentration in L-arginine group was significantly higher than other group (control group: 11.8+/-1; L-arginine group: 14.7+/-0.5 umol/l ); (p<0.05). The aorta score of fatty streak in control group was 0.875+/-0.35, but no fatty streak lesion was detected in L-arginine group (p<0.05).

The number of intimal apoptotic cells/500 cells of aorta in two groups of experiment were statistically different (control group: 39.3 +/- 7.6; L-arginine group: 21.5 +/- 5.3 ) (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The inhibition of endothelial cells apoptosis by L-arginine restores endothelial function in a model of hypercholesterolemia.

Author: Mehdi Nematbakhsh, Shaghayegh Haghjooyjavanmard, Farzaneh Mahmoodi and Ali-Reza Monajemi
Credits/Source: Lipids in Health and Disease 2008, 7:27

Published on: 2008-08-02

Copyright by the authors listed above - made available via BioMedCentral (Open Access). Please make sure to read our disclaimer prior to contacting 7thSpace Interactive. To contact our editors, visit our online helpdesk. If you wish submit your own press release, click here.

Comments Page 0 of 0

There are currently 0 comments to display.

+ Add New Comment

Custom Search