Abstract

Antioxidant depletion and nitric oxide deficiency are consequences of L-NG-Nitro Arginine Methyl Ester (L- NAME) induced hypertension. This study assessed the role of D-ribose-L-cysteine (DRLC) a compound that enhances the production of intracellular glutathione in pregnant rats administered L-NAME. Twenty-four pregnant rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups of control, L-NAME, L-NAME + DRLC and the DRLC group. Both L-NAME (50 mg/kg subcutaneously) and DRLC (200 mg/kg orally) were administered from days 12-19 of pregnancy. Blood pressure, oxidative stress indices, liver enzymes, albumin, total protein, c-reactive protein and nitric oxide levels were measured on day 20 of pregnancy. The results showed that L-NAME + DRLC reduced blood pressure induced by L-NAME during pregnancy. L-NAME + DRLC rats reversed the decreased placental and foetal weights observed in the L-NAME group. DRLC also reverses lipid peroxidation and increased the antioxidant levels in the placenta. The increased CRP levels in the L-NAME group were reduced in the L-NAME + DRLC group while the reduced nitric oxide level in the L-NAME group was significantly increased in the L-NAME + DRLC group. We conclude that DRLC reduced blood pressure by ameliorating the effects of oxidative stress and inflammation in L-NAME-induced pregnancy hypertension.

Key words: L-NAME, blood pressure, preeclampsia, pregnancy, D-ribose-L-Cysteine, antioxidant