Characterization of blood-brain barrier L-arginine uptake using in situ brain perfusions in a female mouse model.

backgroundL-arginine is a critical determinant of central nervous system (CNS) function through nitric oxide (NO) production. Its uptake from plasma into brain is dependent on carrier-mediated transport across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Transport kinetics of L-arginine BBB uptake have been assessed in rat models, but saturation constants such as maximal transport rate (V

methodsBALBc mice were perfused with

resultsBBB arginine uptake showed both saturable and nonsaturable components, with a whole brain K

conclusionThe results indicate that mice predominantly use the y+ system, a cationic amino acid transporter, to transport L-arginine across the BBB. Our work supports previous characterization of BBB carrier-mediated transport of L-arginine yet extends the data by assessing complete Michaelis-Menten transport kinetics across regions and in whole brain in a female mouse model. Data further suggest species can influence BBB L-arginine transport function and there is differential need for L-arginine between brain regions. This data serves as a baseline for studies involving alterations in cationic amino acid homeostasis or altered L-arginine metabolism such as in cases of arginine auxotrophy.