L-Arginine and Antioxidant Diet Supplementation Partially Restores Nitric Oxide-Dependent Regulation of Phenylephrine Renal Vasoconstriction in Diabetics Rats

The protective mechanism of NO on the vasoconstrictor effects of phenylephrine in the kidney is lost during the development of diabetes, probably via the actions of ROS through a decrease in tetrahydrobiopterin, thus contributing to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Restoration of this protective NO mechanism can be achieved by simultaneously stimulating NO synthesis and preventing the effects of ROS through the use of L-arginine and a combination of vitamins E and C as diet supplementation.