Abstract

NOVAES, M.R.C.G. et al. Efeitos farmacológicos da suplementação dietética com arginina em ratos com tumor sólido de Walker 256. ALAN [online]. 2000, vol.50, n.3, pp.230-236. ISSN 0004-0622.

Pharmacological effects of arginine supplementation in rats with Walker 256 solid tumor. The effects of diet arginine supplementation for those with cancer are controversial. We evaluate the effects of dietetic supplementation with arginine over body weight, growth of tumor, metastatic dissemination, surviving time, amino acid metabolism, haematological changes of the rats with Walker 256 solid tumor. Intragastrical solutions with arginine at 4% and 6%, a standard diet (control) were administered to the animals. The supplementation with arginine was associated with a lower weight gain during the study period (p<0.05). Surviving time of the rats with solid tumor did not vary significantly between the groups. The rate of metastase was lower in animals with Walker 256 solid tumor supplemented with arginine. The amino acid metabolism was estimulate in the animals after arginin supplementation at 4% and 6%, demonstrated by significant increases in blood levels of arginine, ornitine, citruline, proline and histidin when compared to the control group. Anaemia was less severe in the rats with Walker 256 solid tumor that received arginine supplementation. The results suggest that arginine 6% supplementation may have pharmacologic effect in rats with Walker 256 solid beyon the nutritional one.

Keywords : Arginine supplementation; Walker 256 tumor; surviving time; metastases; amino acids metabolism.