Folic acid, either solely or combined with L ‐citrulline, improves NO signaling and ameliorates chronic hypoxia‐induced pulmonary hypertension in newborn pigs

We report for the first time that oral administration of the B vitamin, folic acid, either solely, or when combined with the amino acid, L-citrulline, ameliorated the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in a newborn piglet animal model. We also provide data showing that the mechanistic impact of folic acid is due to improving pulmonary vascular NO signaling. Thus, folic acid merits further investigation as a potential treatment for human infants with PH due to cardiopulmonary conditions associated with chronic hypoxia. AbstractConcomitant with developing pulmonary hypertension (PH), newborn piglets exposed to chronic hypoxia develop pulmonary vascular NO signaling impairments. PH is reduced and NO signaling is improved in chronically hypoxic piglets treated with the NO-arginine precursor, L-citrulline. Folic acid positively impacts NO signaling. We evaluated whether the effect on NO signaling and PH is greater using co-treatment with folic acid and L-citrulline than either alone. From day 3 to day 10 of hypoxia, piglets were treated solely with folic acid, solely with L-citrulline, or co-treated with both. Catheters were placed to measure in vivo hemodynamics. NO production was measured in vitro in dissected pulmonary arteries. Compared to normoxic piglets, pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) was elevated and NO production was reduced in untreated hypoxic piglets. Regardless of treatment strategy, PVR was less in all three treated groups of hypoxic piglets when compare...
Source: Physiological Reports - Category: Physiology Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research