Comparative pharmacokinetics of N(ω)-hydroxy-nor-L-arginine, an arginase inhibitor, after single-dose intravenous, intraperitoneal and intratracheal administration to brown Norway rats.

1.  Rodent studies have documented that N(ω)-hydroxy-nor-L-arginine (nor-NOHA), an arginase inhibitor, has therapeutic potential in the treatment of cardiovascular and obstructive airway diseases. However, its bioavailability and pharmacokinetics have not been described so far.

Activation of p38 MAPK and expression of TGF-β1 in rat colon enterocytes after whole body γ-irradiation.

Purpose: To examine the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38) phosphorylation and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) expression in rat colon enterocytes after irradiation and their contribution to pathology of intestinal radiation disease.

Materials And Methods: Male Wistar rats were irradiated with whole body γ-radiation of 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 Gy ((60)Co, 1.

Early changes in L-arginine-nitric oxide metabolic pathways in response to the whole-body gamma irradiation of rats.

Purpose: Nitric oxide (NO), a reactive radical, is formed in higher amounts from L-arginine by inducible NO synthase (iNOS) during early response to ionizing radiation presumably as a part of signal transduction pathways. This study investigated the changes in L-arginine-NO metabolic pathways within a 24-hour period after whole-body gamma irradiation of rats with the range of low to supra-lethal doses.

Materials And Methods: Young adult female Wistar rats received either 0-50 Gy whole-body irradiation or an intraperitoneal injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 mg/kg).