S-allylmercaptocysteine scavenges hydroxyl radical and singlet oxygen in vitro and attenuates gentamicin-induced oxidative and nitrosative stress and renal damage in vivo

BACKGROUND: Oxidative and nitrosative stress have been involved in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. The purpose of this work was to study the effect of S-allylmercaptocysteine, a garlic derived compound, on gentamicin-induced oxidative and nitrosative stress and nephrotoxicity. In addition, the in vitro reactive oxygen species scavenging properties of S-allylmercaptocysteine were studied. RESULTS: S-allylmercaptocysteine was able to scavenge hydroxyl radicals and singlet oxygen in vitro. In rats treated with gentamicin (70 mg/Kg body weight, subcutaneously, every 12 h, for 4 days), renal oxidative stress was made evident by the increase in protein carbonyl content and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, and the nitrosative stress was made evident by the increase in 3-nitrotyrosine. In addition, gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity was evident by the: (1) decrease in creatinine clearance and in activity of circulating glutathione peroxidase, and (2) increase in urinary excretion of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase, and (3) necrosis of proximal tubular cells. Gentamicin-induced oxidative and nitrosative stress and nephrotoxicity were attenuated by S-allylmercaptocysteine treatment (100 mg/Kg body weight, intragastrically, 24 h before the first dose of gentamicin and 50 mg/Kg body weight, intragastrically, every 12 h, for 4 days along gentamicin-treatment). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, S-allylmercaptocysteine is able to scavenge hydroxyl radicals and singlet oxygen in vitro and to ameliorate the gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity and oxidative and nitrosative stress in vivo

Hemodynamic effects of nitric oxide synthase inhibition before and after cardiac arrest in infant piglets

Using infant piglets, we studied the effects of nonspecific inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthase by N G-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME; 3 mg/kg) on vascular pressures, regional blood flow, and cerebral metabolism before 8 min of cardiac arrest, during 6 min of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and at 10 and 60 min of reperfusion. We tested the hypotheses that nonspecific NO synthase inhibition 1) will attenuate early postreperfusion hyperemia while still allowing for successful resuscitation after cardiac arrest, 2) will allow for normalization of blood flow to the kidneys and intestines after cardiac arrest, and 3) will maintain cerebral metabolism in the face of altered cerebral blood flow after reperfusion. Before cardiac arrest, l-NAME increased vascular pressures and cardiac output and decreased blood flow to brain (by 18%), heart (by 36%), kidney (by 46%), and intestine (by 52%) compared with placebo. During CPR, myocardial flow was maintained in all groups to successfully resuscitate 24 of 28 animals [ P value not significant (NS)]. Significantly,l-NAME attenuated postresuscitation hyperemia in cerebellum, diencephalon, anterior cerebral, and anterior-middle watershed cortical brain regions and to the heart. Likewise, cerebral metabolic rates of glucose (CMRGluc) and of lactate production (CMRLac) were not elevated at 10 min of reperfusion. These cerebral blood flow and metabolic effects were reversed byl-arginine. Flows returned to baseline levels by 60 min of reperfusion. Kidney and intestinal flow, however, remained depressed throughout reperfusion in all three groups. Thus nonspecific inhibition of NO synthase did not adversely affect the rate of resuscitation from cardiac arrest while attenuating cerebral and myocardial hyperemia. Even though CMRGluc and CMRLac early after resuscitation were decreased, they were maintained at baseline levels. This may be clinically advantageous in protecting the brain and heart from the damaging effects of hyperemia, such as blood-brain barrier disruption