Arginine as an exacerbating factor for glomerulonephritis in rats fed a methionine-threonine-supplemented low casein diet.

Abstract

We previously demonstrated that a methionine-threonine-supplemented low (8.5%) casein diet (8.5CMT) reduced symptoms such as proteinuria in nephritic rats without severe protein malnutrition. In this study, we examined whether or not L-arginine supplementation to 8.5CMT would exacerbate proteinuria and other symptoms in nephritic rats. Male Wistar rats with glomerulonephritis induced by a single intravenous injection of nephrotoxic serum were fed either a 20% casein diet (control), 8.5% casein diet, 8.5CMT, or L-arginine-supplemented 8.5CMT (8.5CMTA) for 16 days. The 8.5CMTA, as compared with the 8.5CMT, aggravated proteinuria and glomerulonephritis. Administration of L-N(G)-nitroarginine methyl ester, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, to 8.5CMTA-fed nephritic rats by drinking water for 14 days canceled the adverse effect of L-arginine on proteinuria and histopathological damage in glomeruli. These results suggest that the supplementation of L-arginine makes exacerbation via nitric oxide production in glomerulonephritis.

• Authors: T Nihei, K Arai, Y Miura, K Yagasaki
• Journal: Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry (Biosci Biotechnol Biochem) Vol. 65 Issue 5 Pg. 1155-62 (May 2001) ISSN: 0916-8451 [Print] England
• PMID: 11440131 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Caseins
• Dietary Proteins
• Enzyme Inhibitors
• Threonine
• Arginine
• Methionine
• NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester

Topics

• Animals
• Arginine (adverse effects, antagonists & inhibitors)
• Blood Urea Nitrogen
• Caseins (administration & dosage)
• Dietary Proteins (administration & dosage)
• Enzyme Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Glomerulonephritis (blood, physiopathology)
• Male
• Methionine (administration & dosage)
• NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester (pharmacology)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Threonine (administration & dosage)