L-citrulline attenuates arrested alveolar growth and pulmonary hypertension in oxygen-induced lung injury in newborn rats.

ABSTRACT: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is characterized by arrested alveolar development and complicated by pulmonary hypertension (PH). NO promotes alveolar growth. Inhaled NO (iNO) ameliorates the BPD phenotype in experimental models and in some premature infants. Arginosuccinate synthetase (ASS) and arginosuccinate lyase (ASL) convert L-citrulline to L-arginine; L-citrulline is regenerated during NO synthesis from L-arginine. Plasma levels of these NO precursors are low in PH. We hypothesized that L-citrulline prevents experimental O2-induced BPD in newborn rats. Rat pups were assigned from birth through postnatal day (P) 14 to room air (RA), RA + L-citrulline, 95% hyperoxia (BPD model), and 95%O2 + L-citrulline. Rat pups exposed to hyperoxia had fewer and enlarged air spaces and decreased ca

SUBMITTER: Vadivel A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3132222 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature