Ng,ng-dimethyl-L-arginine dihydrochloride

Chemical Properties

White Crystalline Solid

Uses

A potent inhibitor of NO synthase of adrenal glands, brain, and vascular endothelial cells

Uses

N^G,N^G- Dimethylarginine dihydrochloride has been used:

• to study its effects on cardiovascular activities in rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) in rats
• as a standard for measuring L-arginine and dimethylarginines
• to study its effects on hepatic deterioration

General Description

N^G,N^G-Dimethylarginine dihydrochloride is a methylated arginine derivative, which is produced by the liver. It is linked to liver cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis and acute liver failure (ALF).

Biological Activity

ng,ng-dimethyl-l-arginine is an endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor.nitric oxide (no) that is synthesised from l-arginine contributes to the regulation of blood pressure and to host defence.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Reversible inhibitor of nitric oxide synthetase in vivo and in vitro.

in vitro

ng,ng-dimethyl-l-arginine (adma) was found to be able to inhibit macrophage and vascular no synthase. when added to a cytosolic preparation of macrophage no synthase, adma could cause dose-dependent inhibition of no formation. in the presence of added arginine, adma could inhibited no synthesis and the inhibitory effects of adma were prevented by addition of l-arginine so that the rate of no synthesis did not significantly differ from control values [1].

in vivo

animal study showed that the injection of 1-30 mg/kg adma into 3 anaesthetised guineapigs could cause dose-dependent increases in mean arterial blood pressure. moreover, during continuous infusion of adma, which caused plasma adma concentrations to rise approximately 9-fold, the systolic blood pressure was raised by nearly 15 % [1].

storage

Room temperature (desiccate)

References

[1] vallance, p. ,leone, a.,calver, a., et al. accumulation of an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis in chronic renal failure. lancet 339, 572-575 (1992).