Xanthine Oxidase and Adenosine Deaminase Activities of Renal Tissue in Rats with Hypertension Induced by N Sup Omega Nitro-L-Arginine Methyl Ester+

Hypertension may alter kidney functions negatively. Purine metabolism may be affected from constricted blood vessels and increased cardiac output, because of hypertension. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition by N sup omega Nitro-LArginine Methyl Ester (L-NAME) produces hypertension in rats. The aim of this study was to investigate adenosine deaminase (AD) and xanthine oxidase (XO) activities of renal tissue in rats after NOS inhibition. Rats were divided into three groups; one of them was control group and the others were study groups treated with 100 or 500 mg per liter L-NAME in drinking tap water for 15 days. After above-mentioned treatment, arterial blood pressure was measured via carotid artery cannula on anaesthetised rats. Activities of AD and XO were carried out in the renal tissue. Systolic blood pressures showed significant increase in both L-NAME groups. XO activities of L-NAME groups were increased significantly compared to control group. Increased AD activities were also observed in L-NAME groups but this increase did not reach statistical significance. There was no significant difference in XO and AD activities between 100 mg and 500 mg L-NAME groups. In conclusion, we speculated that hypertension induced by L-NAME causes increased purine nucleotides. Then, accumulated purine nucleotides may be removed from the renal tissue by increased XO and AD enzyme activities.