Reduced citrulline availability by OTC deficiency in mice is related to reduced nitric oxide production.

The amino acid arginine is the sole precursor for nitric oxide (NO) synthesis. We recently demonstrated that an acute reduction of circulating arginine does not compromise basal or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-inducible NO production in mice. In the present study, we investigated the importance of citrulline availability in ornithine transcarbamoylase-deficient spf(ash) (OTCD) mice on NO production, using stable isotope techniques and C57BL6/J (wild-type) mice controls. Plasma amino acids and tracer-tracee ratios were measured by LC-MS. NO production was measured as the in vivo conversion of L-[guanidino -(15)N2]arginine to L-[guanidine-(15)N]citrulline; de novo arginine production as conversion of L-[ureido-(13)C-5,5-(2)H2]citrulline to L-[guanidino -(13)C-5,5-(2)H2]arginine. Protein metabolism was measured using L-[ring-(2)H5]phenylalanine and L-[ring-(2)H2]tyrosine. OTC deficiency caused a reduction of systemic citrulline concentration and production to 30-50% (P<0.001), reduced de novo arginine production (P<0.05), reduced whole-body NO production to 50% (P<0.005) and increased net protein breakdown by a factor 2-4 (P<0.001). NO production was 2-fold higher in female than in male OTCD mice, in agreement with the X-linked location of the OTC gene. In response to LPS treatment (10 mg/kg i.p.), circulating arginine increased in all groups (P<0.001), and NO production was no longer affected by the OTC deficiency due to increased net protein breakdown as a source for arginine. Our study shows that reduced citrulline availability is related to reduced basal NO production via reduced de novo arginine production. Under basal conditions this is probably c-NOS mediated NO production. When sufficient arginine is available after LPS stimulated net protein breakdown, NO production is unaffected by OTC deficiency. Key words: arginine, OTC, sepsis. LA - ENG PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE DEP - 20080812 TA - Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab JT - American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism JID - 10090122