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Nitric Oxide (NO) donors such as L-arginine are a
candidate to restores endothelial function. NO itself may change
endothelial permeability which is an important factor to control vascular
homeostasis. So, the effect of L-arginine on aorta and coronary arteries
permeability was the objective of this study. 20 male rats were randomly
divided into two groups of oral administrated L-arginine (4 g/l) and
control. After five weeks of experiment, the serum level of nitrite by
Griess reagent method and direct blood pressure were measured. The aorta
and coronary arteries permeability were determined by extravasation of
injected Evan Blue dye. The results indicate that after the 5 weeks of
experiment, L-arginine increases mean arterial pressure (group I: 157±6,
group II: 108.2±10.1 mmHg; p<0.05) and the serum level of nitrite(group
I: 35.69±6.88, group II: 23.21±2.72 µmol/l; p<0.05) significantly. No
statistical differences were observed in endothelial permeability of aorta
(group I: 66.6±5.4, group II: 85.23±10.64 µg/g.tissue) and coronary
arteries (group I: 28.2±3.17, group II: 22.83±1.39 µg/g. tissue) between
the groups. Low dose L-arginine may increases the level of nitrite; last
metabolite of NO in plasma, but its effect on aorta and coronary arteries
permeability is not certain.
