Supplementation with L-Arginine Decreases Jejunal Lesions and Micronucleus Formation Induced by 5-Fluorouracil in Rats

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of L-arginine supplementation on the formation of jejunal lesions and micronuclei in Wistar rats following 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) treatment. Fifty rats were separated into five groups: CG served as the control group, G_Arg was supplemented L-arginine, G_5-FU was administered 5-FU, G_Arg+5-FU was supplemented L-arginine/day and administered 5-FU, and G_ciclo served as a positive control group for micronuclei formation. Jejunal lesions were assessed by histopathological analysis using a scoring system with a maximum of 39 points, based on the following lesions: lymph vessel dilatation, cubic enterocytes, villous flattening, villus fusion, interstitial edema, and apical necrosis of the villi. Micronuclei were counted in polychromatic erythrocytes from the femur bone marrow. The control and G_Arg rats had the lowest number of jejunal lesions (6.4 ± 2.8 and 5.3 ± 2.4, respectively) and micronuclei (1.9 ± 0.6 and 1.1 ± 0.3, respectively) while the G_5-FU rats had the highest number of jejunal lesions (24.2 ± 4.9) and micronuclei (36.0 ± 8.5). The G_Arg+5-FU rats showed significantly reduced (P < 0.05) jejunal lesions (10.2 ± 4.9) and micronuclei (15.4 ± 5.9). In conclusion L-arginine supplementation potentially reduces the jejunal lesions and DNA damage caused by 5-FU.

Author Contributions

All authors participated in the experimental design, data collection, laboratory analysis, and writing of the manuscript.

Disclosure Statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

The present study was supported by University of Western São Paulo (Unoeste) and Financing Code 001 of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), Brazil.