Protective effects of arginine on fetal brain under maternal immobilization stress

Arginine by regulating the biological activity of the brain plays an important role in reducing stress. Today''s، stress is one of the century disease that created many problem. This study conducted to determine the protective effect of arginine on nitric oxide levels in maternal fetal brain tissue under stress. Twenty pregnant Wistar rats (200-250 gr) were randomly divided into four groups. With and without stress groups received arginine (200 mg/kg) intraperitoneal from 5 – 20 days of pregnancies. Control with and sham without stress received 2 ml of normal saline. The pregnant rats were anesthetized by ketamine (100 mg/kg) on the day 20 then the fetuses removed and weighed. Twenty five brain of fetal brain rat from each group were chosen for measuring of forebrain thickness and brain volume. Another 25 brain were chosen for measuring of nitric oxide. Data were analyzed by one way ANOVA. Nitric oxide Levels reduced in stress rats treated with arginine compared to control group (P<0. 05). The mean thickness of forebrain and hippicampal formation decreased in stress rats versus unstressed، but was not significant. The mean weight decreased significantly in stress group compared to the unstressed group (P<0. 05). Arginine could protect the brain tissue and fetal weight by reducing the level of oxidative stress in the pregnant rats.