Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester reduces the incidence of IDDM in BB/E rats

• Published in: Diabetes (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 44; no. 3; pp. 365 - 368
• Main Authors: LINDSAY, R. M, SMITH, W, ROSSITER, S. P, MCINTYRE, M. A, WILLIAMS, B. C, BAIRD, J. D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Alexandria, VA American Diabetes Association 01-03-1995
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Aging - physiology; Amino Acid Oxidoreductases - antagonists & inhibitors; Animals; Arginine - administration & dosage; Arginine - analogs & derivatives; Arginine - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose - analysis; Blood Glucose - drug effects; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Body Weight - drug effects; Causes of; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - genetics; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - physiopathology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - prevention & control; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Female; Insulin - therapeutic use; Intestines - blood supply; Intestines - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; Nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide - antagonists & inhibitors; Nitric Oxide - biosynthesis; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Physiological aspects; Rats; Rats, Inbred BB; Type 1 diabetes; Endocrinopathy; Immunopathology; Rat; Enzyme; Pathogenesis; Rodentia; Enzyme inhibitor; Autoimmune disease; Nitric-oxide synthase; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Animal; Nitrogen monoxide; Insulin dependent diabetes; Oxidoreductases
• ISSN: 0012-1797; 1939-327X
• DOI: 10.2337/diab.44.3.365

Evidence that nitric oxide (NO) is involved in cytokine-mediated islet beta-cell dysfunction and destruction in vitro has led to the hypothesis that increased production of NO may contribute to the pathogenesis of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). This study demonstrates that oral administration of N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (an inhibitor of NO synthase) from 30 to 150 days of age significantly reduced (P < 0.05) the incidence of IDDM in diabetes-prone BB/E rats. This supports the idea that NO plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of IDDM in this animal model.