[Protective and treated effects of L-arginine on hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats]

The protective and treated effects of L-Arginine on isobaric hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension were studied in rats. It was found that L-Arginine significantly inhibits hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy. The mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) was 3.58 +/- 0.06 kPa and right ventricle/(left ventricle plus septum) ratio [RV/(LV+S)] was 0.34 +/- 0.01 in rats exposed to hypoxia (FiO2 = 0.10 +/- 0.05) for 3 weeks. The mPAP was 2.61 +/- 0.09 kPa and RV/(LV+S) was 0.26 +/- 0.01 in rats pretreated with L-Arginine [200mg/(kg.d)]i there is significant difference between the two groups. We also found that L-Arginine (300mg/kg) can decrease mPAP in rats with hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. The results suggest that L-Arginine might have significant protential for protection and treatment of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension.