Influence of L-arginine and N power G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester on bleomyin -induced pulmonary toxicity

ABSTRACT

The current study aimed to investigate the effect of oral supplementation with the nitric oxide [NO] precursor; namely, L- arginine [ARG] and the NO synthesis inhibitor; namely, NG-nitro-L- arginine methyl ester [L-NAME] on bleomycin [BLM]-induced pulmonary toxicity. BLM was administered i.p. at a dose of 15 mg/kg, three times a week, for a total period of four weeks to male Wistar rats. Treatment with either ARG [500 mg/kg/day] or L-NAME [100 mg/kg/day] was commenced with BLM and continued up to the end of the experiment. Appropriate controls were performed. The results of the study indicated that the lung toxicity exerted by chronic administration of BLM is alleviated by ARG, while exacerbated by L-NAME supplementation and could address a possible protective role of NO