36 научные ведомости серия Медицина. Фармация. 2012. №22 (141). Выпуск 20/3

1) Belgorod National Research 
University
2) Kursk State Medical University
Arginase catalyzes the hydrolysis of the substrate for nitric oxide 
synthesis L-arginine to L-ornithine and urea. In the human organism 
two isoforms of arginase were found. Arginase I localizes in the 
cytoplasm of cells and predominantly expresses in the liver. Arginase 
II is a mitochondrial protein that expresses in the kidney, prostate 
and vascular wall. Arginase II hydrolyzes L-arginine, thereby reducing 
the synthesis of the nitric oxide and leading to the development of the 
endothelial dysfunction and the emergence of a number of the 
cardiovascular pathology.
Keywords: L-arginine, arginase I, arginase II, endothelial 
dysfunction, diabetes, hypertension, endothelial nitric oxide synthase.
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