Tissue-specific regulation of potassium homeostasis by high doses of cationic amino acids

Abstract

The administration of l-arginine hydrochloride has been used for testing pituitary secretion in humans, and as an experimental model for induction of acute pancreatitis in rats and mice. Whereas in the first case, the administration of the amino acid is associated with hiperkalemia, in the model of acute pancreatitis no data are available on possible changes in potassium homeostasis. The present study shows that the acute administration to mice of l-arginine hydrochloride or other cationic amino acids almost duplicate plasma potassium levels. This effect was associated to a marked decrease of tissue potassium in both pancreas and liver. No changes were found in other tissues. These changes cannot be ascribed to the large load of chloride ions, since similar effects were produced when l-ornithine aspartate was administered. The changes in potassium levels were dependent on the dose. The displacement of intracellular potassium from the liver and pancreas to the extracellular compartment appears to be dependent on the entry of the cationic amino acid, since the administration of an equivalent dose of alfa-difluoromethyl ornithine HCl (DFMO), a non physiological analog of l-ornithine, which is poorly taken by the tissues in comparison with the physiological cationic amino acids, did not produce any change in potassium levels in pancreas and liver. The analyses of the expression of cationic amino acid transporters (CAT) suggest that the CAT-2 transporter may be implicated in the potassium/cationic amino acid interchange in liver and pancreas. The possible physiological or pathological relevance of these findings is discussed.

Oregano (Origanum vulgare) Essential Oil and Its Constituents Prevent Rat Kidney Tissue Injury and Inflammation Induced by a High Dose of L-Arginine

“…Disturbance in serum potassium levels, either an increase or decrease, is almost certainly the consequence of kidney disorder or related to a certain degree to kidney dysfunction. Different studies described that the efflux of potassium from cells to the extracellular spaces was associated with administering L-arginine and other cationic amino acids [24]. The results from the present study emphasized the significant effect of thymol and carvacrol applied in combination on a decrease in the potassium serum level (Table 1), contributing to the fine regulation of cation homeostasis.…”

“…A recently published study also revealed that the systemic (i.p.) application of L-arginine produced a marked rise in plasma potassium levels in mice [24]. Potassium is required for vital cellular function, and even small changes in the distribution between intra-and extracellular compartments can result in a marked elevation in serum potassium values [25].…”

Use of ammonium salts or binary mixtures derived from amino acids, glycine betaine, choline and indole-3-butyric acid as plant regulators

“…Similar chemical shis were also observed for L-arginine hydrochloride or L-histidine hydrochloride, which has been reported in the literature to indicate the cationic form. 31,32 The abovementioned shis are shown in Fig. 2 and S17 (ESI †) for 1 and 2, respectively.…”

Safety issues and harmful pharmacological interactions of nutritional supplements in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: considerations for Standard of Care and emerging virus outbreaks

“…L-arginine also induced hyperkalaemia in animals and humans [73]. A recent study suggested that L-arginine and other dibasic amino acids increased plasma potassium levels, promoting the metal ion efflux from liver and pancreas to the extracellular aqueous environment [74].…”