Arginine decreases Cryptosporidium parvum infection in undernourished suckling mice involving nitric oxide synthase and arginase.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

This study investigated the role of L-arginine supplementation to undernourished and Cryptosporidium parvum-infected suckling mice.

METHODS:

The following regimens were initiated on the fourth day of life and injected subcutaneously daily. The C. parvum-infected controls received L-arginine (200 mmol/L) or phosphate buffered saline. The L-arginine-treated mice were grouped to receive NG-nitro-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (20 mmol/L) or phosphate buffered saline. The infected mice received orally 10(6) excysted C. parvum oocysts on day 6 and were euthanized on day 14 at the infection peak.

RESULTS:

L-arginine improved weight gain compared with the untreated infected controls. L-NAME profoundly impaired body weight gain compared with all other groups. Cryptosporidiosis was associated with ileal crypt hyperplasia, villus blunting, and inflammation. L-arginine improved mucosal histology after the infection. L-NAME abrogated these arginine-induced improvements. The infected control mice showed an intense arginase expression, which was even greater with L-NAME. L-arginine decreased the parasite burden, an effect that was reversed by L-NAME. Cryptosporidium parvum infection increased urine NO(3)(-)/NO(2)(-) concentrations compared with the uninfected controls, which was increased by L-arginine supplementation, an effect that was also reversed by L-NAME.

CONCLUSION:

These findings show a protective role of L-arginine during C. parvum infection in undernourished mice, with involvement of arginase I and nitric oxide synthase enzymatic actions.

• Authors: Ibraim C Castro, Bruna B Oliveira, Jacek J Slowikowski, Bruna P Coutinho, Francisco Júlio W S Siqueira, Lourrany B Costa, Jesus Emmanuel Sevilleja, Camila A Almeida, Aldo A M Lima, Cirle A Warren, Reinaldo B Oriá, Richard L Guerrant
• Journal: Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) (Nutrition) Vol. 28 Issue 6 Pg. 678-85 (Jun 2012) ISSN: 1873-1244 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22261576 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Nitrogen Oxides
• Arginine
• Nitric Oxide Synthase
• Arginase
• NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester

Topics

• Animals
• Animals, Newborn
• Arginase (metabolism)
• Arginine (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Cryptosporidiosis (complications, drug therapy, parasitology, pathology)
• Cryptosporidium parvum
• Dietary Supplements
• Female
• Ileum (drug effects, parasitology, pathology)
• Inflammation (complications, drug therapy, parasitology)
• Injections, Subcutaneous
• Intestinal Mucosa (drug effects, parasitology, pathology)
• Male
• Malnutrition (complications, drug therapy, parasitology, pathology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred mdx
• NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester (pharmacology)
• Nitric Oxide Synthase (metabolism)
• Nitrogen Oxides (urine)
• Oocysts
• Weight Gain (drug effects)