Cardiovascular effects of L-arginine as physiological precursor of nitric oxide

In this study the cardiovascular effects of L-arginine were investigated. Perfusion with sorbitol L-arginine 5% solution induced a significant decrease of the systolic blood pressure in the human arterial hypertension. The hypotensive effects of L-arginine are accompanied by an increase of the ventricular ejection fraction. In vitro, L-arginine as physiologic precursor of nitric oxide induced a smooth muscle relaxation more evident in the coronary vessels than in the thoracic aorta rings. Selective inhibition of NO-synthetise with L-NAME reduced the L-arginine vasodilation and intensified the vasoconstrictor effect of phenylephrine.