The Role of L‐Arginine and Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase in Intestinal Permeability and Bacterial Translocation |
| |
| Authors: | Iara Eliza Pacífico Quirino MD Valbert Nascimento Cardoso PhD Rosana das Graças Carvalho dos Santos MS Warlley Pinheiro Evangelista MS Rosa Maria Esteves Arantes PhD Jacqueline Araújo Fiúza MS Maria Beatriz Abreu Glória PhD Jacqueline Isaura Alvarez‐Leite PhD Marina Andrade Batista MS Maria Isabel Toulson Davisson Correia PhD |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. Departamento de Alimentos da Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil;2. Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas da Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil;3. Departamento de Patologia Geral do Instituto de Ciências Biológicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais‐ Belo Horizonte, Brasil;4. Centro de Pesquisa Renè Rachou, Funda??o Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brasil;5. Departamento de Parasitologia do Instituto de Ciências Biológicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil;6. Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia do Instituto de Ciências Biológicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil;7. Departamento de Pediatria da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil;8. Departamento de Cirurgia da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil |
| |
| Abstract: | Background: Arginine has been shown to have several immunological and trophic properties in stressful diseases. Its metabolites, nitric oxide (NO) and polyamines, are related to arginine's effects. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of the NO donor L‐arginine and the role of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) on intestinal permeability and bacterial translocation in a model of intestinal obstruction (IO) induced by a simple knot in the terminal ileum. Material and Methods: Male C57BL6/J wild‐type (WT) and iNOS knockout (iNOS–/–) mice were randomized into 6 groups: Sham and Sham–/– (standard chow), IO and IO–/– (standard chow +IO), and Arg and Arg–/– (standard chow supplemented with arginine + IO). After 7 days of treatment with standard or supplemented chows, IO was induced and intestinal permeability and bacterial translocation were evaluated. The small intestine and its contents were harvested for histopathological and morphometric analysis and the determination of polyamine concentration. Results: Pretreatment with arginine maintained intestinal permeability (P > .05; Arg and Arg–/– groups vs Sham and Sham–/– groups), increased polyamine concentration in intestinal content (P < .05; Arg vs IO group), and decreased bacterial translocation in WT animals (Arg group vs IO and IO–/– groups). Absence of iNOS also presented a protective effect on permeability but not on bacterial translocation. Conclusion: Arginine supplementation and synthesis of NO by iNOS are important factors in decreasing bacterial translocation. However, when intestinal permeability was considered, NO had a detrimental role. |
| |
| Keywords: | arginine supplementation nitric oxide knockout mice polyamine bacterial translocation intestinal obstruction intestinal permeability |
|
|
