L-arginine attenuates hypertension in pregnant rats with reduced uterine perfusion pressure

A chronic reduction in uterine perfusion pressure in the pregnant rat is associated with significant elevations in mean arterial pressure, proteinuria, and reductions in kidney function as is chronic nitric oxide blockade, suggesting that nitric oxide deficiency may contribute to the clinical manifestations of preeclampsia. The purpose of this study was to determine whether supplementation with L-arginine, the precursor for nitric oxide, attenuates the hypertension produced in response to a chronic reduction in uterine perfusion pressure in the pregnant rat. Reduced uterine perfusion was initiated at day 14 of gestation with arterial pressure determined at day 19 of gestation in conscious, chronically instrumented rats. Arterial pressure was significantly elevated in pregnant rats with chronic reductions in uterine perfusion as compared with pregnant control rats (132 +/- 2 versus 109 +/- 2 mm Hg, P < 0.01, respectively). Treatment with L-arginine (2%) in the drinking water was initiated at day 10 of gestation. L-arginine supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in arterial pressure in both pregnant rats with reduced uterine perfusion pressure (113 +/- 2 mmHg treated, P < 0.01 versus untreated pregnant with reduced uterine perfusion pressure) and pregnant control (97 +/- 3 mmHg treated, P < 0.01 versus untreated pregnant) rats. However, supplementation with L-arginine decreased blood pressure by 19 mm Hg in pregnant with reduced uterine perfusion pressure (untreated versus treated) as compared with 12 mm Hg in pregnant (untreated versus treated) rats. Thus, these results suggest that L-arginine supplementation may be beneficial in attenuating the hypertension in preeclampsia.