期刊名称：Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition
印刷版ISSN：0912-0009
电子版ISSN：1880-5086
出版年度：2012
卷号：51
期号：1
页码：68-75
DOI：10.3164/jcbn.D-11-00011
出版社：The Society for Free Radical Research Japan
摘要：Recently, arginase is suggested to regulate nitric oxide production by competing with nitric oxide synthase for the same substrate, L-arginine, in experimental asthma. We investigated the role of arginase and its relationship to nitric oxide production after spinal cord injury. Rats were subjected to laminectomy and complete transection of their spinal cords (injury group) or laminectomy only (sham group). In the injury group, arginase I was increased in the macrophages at the transection edge, and the peak was observed 48 h after spinal cord injury. However, nitric oxide production decreased significantly in the injury group despite increased nitric oxide synthase2 mRNA expression compared with the sham group. We also demonstrated the reduction in L-arginine concentrations, which was inversely associated with changes in arginase activity. Therefore, arginase appeared to regulate nitric oxide production by consuming L-arginine. The regulation of arginase activity and L-arginine levels may improve nitroxidative stress and reduce tissue damage in spinal cord injury.
