l-Arginine Administration Reduces Neointima Formation After Stent Injury in Rats by a Nitric Oxide-Mediated Mechanism

(I/M 1.2560.35 vs 2.3260.24, P,0.05, n57 each) or in AdRR5- and AdNOS2-infected rats (I/M 2.5760.43, n57 and 1.8260.75, n58, respectively; P,0.05 for both). The effect of L-Arg was abolished by simultaneous administration of N G -nitro L-arginine methyl ester, an NOS inhibitor (2.0360.39, P,0.05, vs L-Arg). Inflammation was markedly less in L-Arg‐ and AdNOS2-treated than in AdRR5-infected rats. Supplemental L-Arg reduces neointima formation after stenting by way of an NOS-dependent mechanism and may be a valuable strategy to target in-stent stenosis. (Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2001;21:1604-1609.)