Arginase activity/expression in the aorta.

<p>Time-course analysis showed significant increases in arginase activity in diabetic mice (12 and 24 wks of age) as compared pre-diabetic mice (4 wks of age) (panel <b>A</b>). Pretreatment with (S)-(2 boronoethyl)-L-cysteine (BEC, 100 µmol/l, an arginase inhibitor) blocked this elevation. Arginase 1 (Arg1) expression in the Akita mice was slightly increased at 4 wks (panel <b>B</b>) and markedly increased at 12 (panel <b>C</b>) and 24 wks of age (panel <b>D</b>). Levels of arginase 2 (Arg2) were not different among age-matched WT and Akita mice (panel <b>B–D</b>). Values are expressed as mean ± S.E.M. of 4–5 independent experiments. * <i>p</i><0.05; ** <i>p</i><0.01; *** <i>p</i><0.001compared to its WT group; ^#<i>p</i><0.05, compared to Akita group.