Arginine Aids Heart Recovery after Ischemia

SYDNEY, Australia—L-arginine may improve functional recovery of the heart after ischemia, independent of its effects on nitric oxide (NO), according to a study out of the University of Sydney (Heart, Lung & Circulation in press, DOI:10.1016/j.hlc.2007.02.092). Researchers used a NO-specific carbon fiber electrode to measure coronary sinus during 60-minute low-flow ischemia (1 ml/min) and 60-minute free reperfusion in isolated rabbit hearts; experimental groups were control, L-arginine (200 µM), N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 8 µM) and hypercholesterolemic.

During early ischemia, NO release decreased markedly in the control and L-arginine groups, but less in the L-NAME and hypercholesterolemic groups. After reperfusion, NO release increased above baseline in control, L-arginine and hypercholesterolemic groups. Hearts treated with L-arginine had similar NO release but better functional recovery than controls; treatment with L-NAME was also associated with better functional recovery than in controls or hypercholesterolemic hearts. It appears improved heart function after L-arginine treatment is independent of effects on NO release.

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