Exogenousl-Arginine Ameliorates Angiotensin II-Induced Hypertension and Renal Damage in Rats

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Abstract
Experiments were performed to determine whether exogenousl-arginine could ameliorate angiotensin II-induced hypertension and renal damage. Rats were instrumented with chronic indwelling femoral venous and arterial catheters for infusions of drugs and measurement of conscious arterial pressure. Arterial blood pressure significantly increased from 124±1 to 199±4 mm Hg, after 9 days of continuous infusion of angiotensin II (20 ng/kg per minute; IV; n=6 to 9). In contrast, the increase in arterial pressure after 9 days of angiotensin II infusion was significantly blunted by 45% (P=0.0003) in rats coadministeredl-arginine (300 μg/kg per minute; IV; n=7 to 9). The glomerular injury index was significantly greater in rats administered angiotensin II in comparison with rats administered saline vehicle (PPP<0.001). Angiotensin II infusion alone and combined angiotensin II plusl-arginine infusion significantly increased urinary albumin excretion. Albuminuria in rats administered angiotensin II plusl-arginine is likely to be because of increased intraglomerular pressure. Our experiments demonstrate thatl-arginine can blunt angiotensin II-induced hypertension and associated renal damage. This latter observation is most exciting because it indicates that increasing NO bioavailability, in addition to lowering arterial pressure, can greatly reduce hypertension-induced renal damage.