Effect of L-arginine on some biochemical markers of metabolic syndrome associated with brain function in female Wistar rats

Metabolic syndrome (Mes) was associated with insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction. In particular, endothelial dysfunction was associated with a significant reduction in nitric oxide, a metabolite of L-arginine (Arg). Insulin resistance occurs following the failure of insulin to maintain glucose balance or regulate appetite via signaling in the brain. Thus, this study investigated the influence of Arg on some biochemical markers of Mes associated with the brain function and on the brain histology of female Wistar rats. Two groups of rats (n = 8) were exposed to a single dose of 60 mg kg-1 b.wt. of Arg and 3 ml kg-1 b.wt. of distilled water respectively as treated and control groups. Exposure was per oral (p.o) for twenty eight consecutive days. Exposure to Arg evoked a significant increase (p-1) and ammonium ion(NH,+) concentration (39.58±0.16 μg inL-1) in the rats' serum. It increased (p