Diets containing 8% salt or 4% fructose (FR) cause insulin resistance and increase tissue methylglyoxal and advanced glycation
end products (AGEs), platelet cytosolic-free calcium, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) in rats. In WKY rats, we have shown
that moderately high salt, 4% NaCl (MHS) alone in diet does not cause hypertension, and when given along with 4% FR it does
not have an additive effect. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or l-arginine (ARG), treatment alone does not prevent hypertension in this model. The objectives of this study were to investigate
the effect of NAC plus ARG in diet on SBP, platelet cytosolic-free calcium in a MHS + FR model, and to measure the plasma
levels of methylglyoxal and the AGE, methylglyoxal-derived hydroimidazolone (MGH). At 7 weeks of age, WKY rats were divided
into three groups: control group was given regular rat chow (0.7% NaCl) and water; MHS + FR group, diet containing 4% NaCl
and 4% FR in drinking water; and MHS + FR + NAC + ARG group, MHS diet supplemented with 1.5% N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and 1.5% l-arginine (ARG), and 4% FR in drinking water, and followed for 6 weeks. NAC + ARG prevented the increase in platelet cytosolic-free
calcium and SBP in MHS + FR treated rats. There was no difference in mean values of plasma methylglyoxal and MGH among the
groups. In conclusion, NAC + ARG treatment is effective in preventing hypertension in a moderately high salt + FR-induced
animal model. Plasma methylglyoxal and MGH may not represent tissue modification or, alternatively, other tissue AGEs, derived
from methylglyoxal or other aldehydes, may be involved in hypertension in this model.
Keywords Hypertension - Moderately high salt plus fructose diet - Advanced glycation end products -
N-acetylcysteine -
l-arginine