Oral administration of L-arginine decreases necrosis of the epigastric skin flap in the rat.

Background: We investigated the effect of prolonged oral arginine administration on tissue necrosis and perfusion in the rat skin flap.

Methods: Twenty-five Sprague-Dawley rats had an 8 x 8 - cm epigastric skin flap elevated and were divided in 2 groups, l-Arginine and Control, which respectively received oral 6% l-arginine solution or water for 8 days postoperatively. On postoperative day 8, area of flap necrosis was measured, and the animals were perfused systemically with 15-microm colored fluorescent microspheres before (blue) and after (yellow-green) ligation of the flap pedicle.

Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase regulates nitric oxide synthesis: genetic and physiological evidence.

Background: NO is a major regulator of cardiovascular physiology that reduces vascular and cardiac contractility. Accumulating evidence indicates that endogenous inhibitors may regulate NOS. The NOS inhibitors asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and N-monomethylarginine are metabolized by the enzyme dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH).