Effect of l-arginine on myoglobin-induced acute renal failure in the rabbit. Wakabayashi, Yasuhisa, Ryuichi Kikawada. Department of Medicine, University of Kitasato Medical School, Sagamihara 228 Japan
APStracts 2:0203F, 1995.
Since myoglobin is a potent inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO), we tested if myoglobin infusion results in renal vasoconstriction and dysfunction, on which L-arginine, a source of NO, has any protective effect in sedated, non-dehydrated and non-acidotic rabbits. The infusion of myoglobin (375 mg/kg) resulted in decrease in renal blood flow, increase in renal vascular resistance and decrease in creatinine clearance, associated with decrease in urinary excretory rate of nitrite/nitrate and guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP). These values 1 to 2 hour after the infusion were significantly different from baseline levels. Co-administration of L -arginine (150 mg/kg in bolus, followed by 150 mg/kg/min) reversed these changes significantly with attenuation of urinary excretory rate of nitrite/nitrate and cGMP. This study suggests that myoglobin -induced renal vasoconstriction and dysfunction and protective effect of L-arginine on them could be mediated through the NO system.

Received 30 May 1995; accepted in final form 14 November 1995.
APS Manuscript Number F171-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Renal Fluid Electrolyte
Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 8 December 95