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Endothelial dysfunction in hypercholesterolemia is corrected by L-arginine

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Endothelial Mechanisms of Vasomotor Control

Summary

Hypercholesterolemia attenuates endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation and augments the responses to vasoconstrictor agents. Both effects are largely due to a reduction in the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor. Since endothelium-derived relaxing factor is now known to be nitric oxide derived from the metabolism of L-arginine, we hypothesized that the abnormal vascular response in hypercholesterolemia could be corrected by supplying the precursor to EDRF, L-arginine. In a series of studies, we have found that conduit and resistance vessels of hypercholesterolemic animals demonstrate endothelial dysfunction which is reversed after exposure to high concentrations of exogenous L-arginine. The experiments suggest that hypercholesterolemia induces a reversible dysfunction of arginine availability or metabolism.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Falk Cardiovascular Research Center, Stanford University Medical Center, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

    John P. Cooke M.D., Ph. D. & J. Dzau

  2. Division of Vascular Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA

    A. Creager

Authors
  1. John P. Cooke M.D., Ph. D.
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  2. J. Dzau
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  3. A. Creager
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Abteilung Innere Medizin, Klinikum der Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Hugstetter Straße 55, 7800, Freiburg, Germany

    H. Drexler , A. M. Zeiher  & H. Just ,  & 

  2. Institut für angewandte Physiologie, Hermann-Herder-Straße 7, 7800, Freiburg, Germany

    E. Bassenge

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© 1991 Dr. Dietrich Steinkopff Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, Darmstadt

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Cooke, J.P., Dzau, J., Creager, A. (1991). Endothelial dysfunction in hypercholesterolemia is corrected by L-arginine. In: Drexler, H., Zeiher, A.M., Bassenge, E., Just, H. (eds) Endothelial Mechanisms of Vasomotor Control. Steinkopff. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-72461-9_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-72461-9_17

  • Publisher Name: Steinkopff

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-72463-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-72461-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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