Dimethylarginines and Serotonin in the Blood of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

The serotoninergic system and nitric oxide system were studied in spontaneously hypertensive rats SHR and Wistar rats (control). The contents of serotonin, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (serotonin metabolite), L-arginine, monomethylarginine, and asymmetric and symmetric dimethylarginines were measured in blood plasma. Serotonin content in hypertensive animals was much higher than in Wistar rats. No interstrain differences were found in the concentration of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. The concentration of asymmetric dimethylarginine in SHR rats was higher than in Wistar rats. However, the concentration of monomethylarginine in SHR rats was lower than in Wistar rats. Our results and published data on the serotoninergic system indicate that SHR rats serve as a convenient model of hypertension.