Nutritional supplementation with arginine protects radiation-induced effects. An experimental study

Abstract

PURPOSE:To investigate the protective effect of L-arginine on the prostate (nonneoplasic) of rats with radiation-induced injury. METHODS:Twenty-nine Wistar rats, male adult, allocated into three groups: Control group (C) was not exposed to irradiation (n=10); Radiated group (R) had undergone pelvic irradiation (n=10); Supplemented and radiated group (R+S) had undergone pelvic irradiation plus L-arginine supplementation (n=9). The animals were observed for signs of toxicity. After euthanization, the prostate was dissected under magnification and stained by hematoxylin and eosin to study acinar structures and stained with Picrosirius red for collagen analysis. RESULTS:After radiation exposure, all animals presented diarrhea, but supplementation with L-arginine reduced this effect. The weight gain in the R+S group was significantly higher than in the C and R groups. In the R+S group the collagen density and the prostate acinar area was similar to the R and C groups. Epithelial height was significantly reduced in group R compared with group C (p<0.0001). When comparing the group R+S with R, a statistical difference was observed to be present (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS:Pelvic radiation promotes systemic effects and some structural modifications in the ventral prostate of rats. These modifications can be prevented by oral supplementation with L-arginine.

Argininosuccinate synthase 1 is an intrinsic Akt repressor transactivated by p53

“…Emerging evidence has revealed that arginine has antioxidant properties ( 30 , 31 ); thus, arginine supplementation exhibited a protective effect against radiation toxicity ( 32 – 34 ). Accordingly, we assumed that Ass1 might be a key molecule to determine the sensitivity toward genotoxic stress.…”

“…Ass1 is a key molecule to alter irradiation sensitivity in mice Although p53 is a determinant of radiation syndrome ( 29), the details of the mechanism remain to be elucidated. Emerging evidence has revealed that arginine has antioxidant properties (30,31); thus, arginine supplementation exhibited a protective effect against radiation toxicity (32)(33)(34). Accordingly, we assumed that Ass1 might be a key molecule to determine the sensitivity toward genotoxic stress.…”

Pre-clinical Research on Bladder Toxicity After Radiotherapy for Pelvic Cancers: State-of-the Art and Challenges

“…L-arginine, due to its anti-oxidant and antiinflammatory properties (6,112,113), as well as due to its proposed protective effect on endothelium by the stimulation of endothelium-derived relaxing factors (114), was tested in several preclinical studies on pelvic radiation-induced bladder toxicity. In these studies, the amino acid administration triggered nitric oxide formation in animals with impaired endothelial function at basal levels (115), reduced radiation-induced diarrhea in around 40% of rats (116), and prevented bladder modification, restoring the morphology of blood vessels by recovering VEGF and FGF expression in the bladder wall (73).…”