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PMID: 1401062 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

L-arginine improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in hypercholesterolemic humans.

The Journal of clinical investigation ·Vol. 90 ·No. 4 ·1992-10-00 ·Pages 1248-53

Creager MA, Gallagher SJ, Girerd XJ, Coleman SM, Dzau VJ, Cooke JP

Abstract

Endothelium-dependent vasodilation is impaired in hypercholesterolemia, even before the development of atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether infusion of L-arginine, the precursor of the endothelium-derived relaxing factor, nitric oxide, improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in hypercholesterolemic humans. Vascular reactivity was measured in the forearm resistance vessels of 11 normal subjects (serum LDL cholesterol = 2.76 +/- 0.10 mmol/liter) and 14 age-matched patients with hypercholesterolemia (serum LDL cholesterol = 4.65 +/- 0.36 mmol/liter, P < 0.05). The vasodilative response to the endothelium-dependent vasodilator, methacholine chloride, was depressed in the hypercholesterolemic group, whereas endothelium-independent vasodilation, induced by nitroprusside, was similar in each group. Intravenous administration of L-arginine augmented the forearm blood flow response to methacholine in the hypercholesterolemic individuals, but not in the normal subjects. L-arginine did not alter the effect of nitroprusside in either group. D-arginine had no effect on forearm vascular reactivity in either group. It is concluded that endothelium-dependent vasodilation is impaired in hypercholesterolemic humans. This abnormality can be improved acutely by administration of L-arginine, possibly by increasing the synthesis of endothelium-derived relaxing factor.

MeSH Terms
Adult Arginine/blood,pharmacology Endothelium, Vascular/physiology Female Forearm/blood supply Humans Hypercholesterolemia/physiopathology Insulin/blood Male Methacholine Chloride/pharmacology Middle Aged Nitric Oxide/physiology Nitroprusside/pharmacology Vasodilation/drug effects
Chemicals
Insulin Methacholine Chloride Nitroprusside Nitric Oxide Arginine
Authors & Affiliations
6 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Creager M A
Vascular Medicine and Atherosclerosis Unit, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Gallagher S J
Girerd X J
Coleman S M
Dzau V J
Cooke J P
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Article Info
Journal
The Journal of clinical investigation
Abbr.
J Clin Invest
ISSN
0021-9738
DOI
10.1172/JCI115987
Published
1992-10-00
Pages
1248-53
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
7802877
PMCID
PMC443166
Subset
IM
Grants
NHLBI NIH HHS · HL-01768 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1172/JCI115987 PMC Full Text View journal details
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